In the 90s, a degree was a ticket to a career. Today, that’s no longer true. Graduates face a more uncertain future, as even the most talented young people find themselves underprepared for a rapidly changing job market. I saw this shift firsthand in 2019 while working on the FutureSkills2030 report, and my son’s concerns about his major only echoed the growing anxiety of many young people: What if my degree doesn’t prepare me for the future?
What’s changed?
As of 2024, 13% of the global youth labor force remains unemployed. Despite being more educated than ever, graduates often lack soft skills and digital skills demanded by emerging industries like AI, cloud computing, and green technologies.
Can we solve unemployment with self-employment?
For some, yes. Self-employment offers a way out of traditional career paths, but young innovators need mentorship, incubators, enabling communities, co-working spaces, and funding—resources often inaccessible, especially in developing regions.
How do we bridge the gap?
- Universities need to align curricula with real-world demands, focusing on areas like digital literacy and emerging technologies.
- Partnerships between universities and industries is essential as it can provide internships and mentorship programs to give students practical experience.
Lack of work experience is another key barrier. To overcome it:
- Expanded and more structured internship opportunities can help students build real-world skills.
- Integrate projects into education by allowing students to gain hands-on experience before graduating.
Limited job opportunities further compound the problem. Here’s how to address it:
- Promote entrepreneurship: Universities should offer startup incubators to help students create their own paths.
- Governments can incentivize sectors like renewable energy and technology to create more jobs for young graduates.
A solution in action: Youth4Sustainability (Y4S)
Programs like Youth4Sustainability (Y4S) by Masdar are already helping bridge this gap. Y4S empowers youth by providing an enabling community and hands-on experience through internships, mentorships, and entrepreneurial programs aimed at tackling real-world sustainability challenges and giving youth access to certain organizations and industries.
Y4S is a great example of how collaboration between academia, industry, and governments can shape a more sustainable and employable future for graduates.
The future won’t be handed to us—it must be shaped. Let’s build a sustainable future, together.
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