Lahore: Pakistan’s youth unemployment remains a critical issue, with 28.4 percent of young people outside the workforce, education, or training, according to a roundtable event marking World Youth Skills Day. The high-level discussion highlighted the urgent need for stronger links between skills development and labor market demand amid rapid technological and demographic changes.

According to United Nations Pakistan, the event, organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), and the British Council, underscored the importance of aligning training programs with market needs. Despite a youth labor force of 20.6 million, the unemployment rate for young people stands at 12.8 percent, nearly double the national average.

The event, titled “Skills for a Shared Future,” emphasized the necessity of an inclusive and demand-driven technical and vocational education system. Participants called for enhanced collaboration between training providers and industries, improved use of labor-market data, and a focus on sectors that can foster productive employment.

Geir Tonstol, Director of the ILO Country Office for Pakistan, stressed the need for a dynamic training ecosystem that supports innovation and prepares youth for emerging job opportunities. The roundtable also addressed the importance of lifelong learning and a national skills passport to enhance workforce mobility.

On the sidelines, PSDF and ILO signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fortify cooperation on skills development and policy dialogue, aiming to improve school-to-work transitions and promote decent work opportunities in Punjab.