World Bank thinking
Skills and Workforce Development
When done right, skills development can reduce undevelopment and underemployment, increase productivity, and improve standards of living. Investing in upskilling or reskilling people for jobs of the future makes economic sense.

Skills development is at the center of changes happening in education and labor markets amid the global mega trends. Skills and workforce development systems must proactively adapt to fast transformations posed by automation, climate action, digitalization, and the evolving labor markets.

Digital skills development
Digital skills allowed children and adolescents, especially those from the most excluded populations, to perform better in their daily lives, successfully transition to a decent job or start a business, and participate productively in their communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic provided a strong impetus for digital solutions, highlighting the importance of digital skills in all areas of life, including the workplace. Therefore, developing digital skills and making them accessible to the most vulnerable and excluded children and adolescents could be one of the most decisive factors in achieving equal opportunities.

However, households’ access to connectivity is a major challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Role of UN
UN country office efforts :

Influence policies, programs and budgets to develop digital skills in education systems.
Generate evidence to support educational, social and technological decision-making processes involving entrepreneurs, national and local authorities, officials, and technical teams.
Promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between sectors and countries.

UN supported efforts in Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Peru to advance the Skills4Girls portfolio and increase investment to develop digital, technological, science and math-related skills in girls and adolescents.

Three adolescent girls carrying out a technology project report
STEM skills initiatives for adolescent girls in LAC
Promoting the participation of girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics
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Skills4Girls: Girl-Centered Skills Development
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