Skills and work

The world is failing young people — and girls are paying the highest price. Across the globe, millions of young women are locked out of decent work, pushed into insecure jobs or shut out of opportunities altogether. We won’t accept that.

Two thirds of the world’s 1.2 billion young people lack essential skills, limiting their job prospects and pushing them into low-quality work. 65 million youth are currently unemployed globally. 1 in 5 are currently neither in employment, education or training, a rate that has steadily risen over the past 17 years. 2 out of every 3 of these are young women.

As Plan International, our programmes work towards removing the barriers that prevent youth from participating in the labour market, and creating safe, enabling environments where young people can thrive. We equip young people with relevant skills so they can actively engage in decent work of their choosing, either waged or self-employed.

Our ambition is not just about getting girls into jobs, its about equal access to opportunities and developing systems that work for girls and young women.

Girls are building their own futures – starting businesses, securing safe and decent jobs, and shaping local economies. When girls earn and lead, families grow stronger and communities thrive.

Our global impact in skills and work

Click on the graphics below to explore our impact in skills and work in 2025.