International Youth Day: "Employers need to take responsibility for empowering our young people with green skills for the future."
To mark International Youth Day, Matrix CMO, Roger Clements spoke with us about the shared responsibility we all have in ensuring our youth are equipped with the real-time skills that will empower them to lead our society to a greener future
On the 12th August each year, we celebrate International Youth Day! This year the United Nations are asking us all to look to the importance of #GreenSkills for Youth as this year's awareness theme.
Our very own Chief Marketing Officer, Roger Clements is a passionate advocate for the work that needs to be done to give our young people the skills and confidence they need to make sure they feel ready for the future. He writes below about the shared responsibility we all have in ensuring our youth are equipped with the real-time skills that will empower them to lead our society to a greener future.
Creating an environment that prepares, motivates and inspires our next generation
When it comes to the future of our young people, we know that the job falls on all of us as educators, employers, friends and family, to help them prepare. Yet, what often strikes me is how career preparation specifically is something that is increasingly falling between the accountable lines of the shapers of our young generation. There is a shared responsibility we all have to ensure our youth are being equipped with the skills they need to thrive in the future, and the skills that we as a society and a sustainable planet will require.
As a society, it is critical that we support our young people in ways that equip them with the right skills that put them in the best position to contribute to a greener planet. As outlined by research done by the United Nations, 'young people are critical to the green transition, yet 830 million youths will lack the necessary #GreenSkills in 2030 to be successfully active in the green economy' [1].
That is a frightening statistic, and when you put that against the fact that 7 out of 10 young people want to play an active part in the green transition [1], it's easy to see that we are letting them down by not facilitating their ability to do so. My thoughts turn to the importance of us as employers and as mentors, in the part we must now play in ensuring that we are creating an environment that prepares, motivates and inspires our next generation.
Employers must step up and play a proactive role in bridging the skills gap between education and careers
As future career options for our young generations evolve at an exciting and rapid pace, many shaped by the drive for a more sustainable future, and whilst state school funding continues to be under pressure, I truly believe it is employers who must step up and play a proactive role in bridging the gap between education and careers, making room for the real-time skills needed to contribute to a greener future.
Whilst our education system and curriculum are increasingly focused on academic results, we collectively must not lose sight on balancing academic results with relevant career and skills preparation. In a world where those skills are a rapidly evolving currency in the workplace, attitudinal, emotional intelligence and adaptability are becoming vital measures on which we assess competencies for the future. These must be nurtured and developed alongside more traditional curriculum skills within our education system.
What next?
The gap between academia and the world of work is a gap that must not be allowed to widen. Now, more than ever before, it is vital that employers step up and commit to our youth and play an active role in shaping the career outlook and preparation for our younger generations. We have a responsibility as employers, to ensure that our young people have the transversal and digital skills to empower them to lead our society to a greener future.
Roger Clements, Chief Marketing Officer - Matrix
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[1] International Youth Day - 5 Things to Know about Green Skills for Youth - United Nations
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