By G M Forhadul Mozumder (Dhaka Bureau)
The rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, the digital economy, climate change, and geopolitical uncertainties are driving unprecedented shifts in employment and society worldwide. Amid this accelerated pace of change, today’s youth face a critical question: which skills will remain relevant in tomorrow’s job market?
In his message for World Youth Skills Day and International Youth Day 2026, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that to thrive in a rapidly changing world, young people cannot rely solely on traditional formal education. They must acquire modern competencies such as digital literacy, AI skills, advanced communication, and critical thinking. Although the circumstances of young people vary globally, their fundamental aspirations remain unified: dignified work, quality education, and a voice in decision-making processes.
Technology and Inequality: Digital Opportunities vs. Social Pressures
While digital technology has opened unprecedented doors for young people to connect on the global stage, it is also deepening structural inequalities. The gap between youth with access to high-speed internet, modern devices, and quality tech training, and those deprived of such resources, continues to widen.
In Bangladesh, while youth internet adoption rates mirror global growth trends, online experiences are not always positive. According to a 2025 UNICEF U-Report survey involving nearly 29,000 Bangladeshi youth, two-thirds of respondents identified the prevalence of fake news and misinformation on social media as a primary source of mental stress. Consequently, alongside ensuring digital access, there is an urgent need to prioritize cybersecurity, media literacy, and the ethical use of technology.
The Impact of the Climate Crisis and the Rise of ‘Green Jobs’
For Bangladeshi youth, climate change is not an abstract concept- it directly impacts their education, health, and livelihoods. According to UNICEF, severe weather events and climate-induced disasters disrupted the education of nearly 35 million children in Bangladesh in 2024 alone.
However, this crisis also presents an opportunity for transformation. Under Bangladesh’s NDC 3.0 strategy, youth are positioned at the heart of climate action. Training young people in sectors such as solar energy, renewable power, waste management, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster technology can simultaneously mitigate climate risks while unlocking new ‘green jobs.’
Gender Disparities and Unlocking the Potential of NEET Youth
One of the largest obstacles to maximizing Bangladesh’s youth development and demographic dividend is the gender gap in employment. According to International Labour Organization (ILO) data, Bangladesh exhibits a massive gender disparity in the rate of youth categorized as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training)- standing at 49.3% for young women compared to just 11.1% for young men.
Effectively integrating this large segment of young women into the labor market requires addressing structural barriers such as safe transportation, workplace protection, and evolving societal attitudes. Similarly, for out-of-school and at-risk youth, experts stress the necessity of expanding market-driven vocational and technical initiatives, such as the SKILFO program, nationwide.
A Seat at the Table: Direct Engagement in Decision-Making
A core theme highlighted by the UN Secretary-General and the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum is that young people are not merely future citizens or passive beneficiaries of development initiatives; they are active partners in the present. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without guaranteeing direct youth representation in policy discussions.
Initiatives such as UNICEF Bangladesh’s Young People Advisory Group, established in 2025, represent initial steps toward involving youth in governance. Moving forward, it remains critical to evaluate how effectively the voices of rural, female, climate-vulnerable, and disabled youth are reflected in policy implementation.
Core Philosophy: ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’
Whether a young person grows up amid conflict, on a climate-vulnerable island, or in a tech-driven metropolis, their core expectations remain the same regardless of background: a secure future, fundamental human rights, and the autonomy to shape their own lives.
For a youth-heavy nation like Bangladesh, the message of International Youth Day is clear: the era of deciding ‘for’ youth is over- it is time to make decisions ‘with’ youth. Investing in their education, skills, and innovative potential is the most viable path toward building an inclusive and resilient society.
G M Forhadul Mozumder: Staff Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
