World Youth Skills Day: Empowering youth to thrive in a tech-led economy

From AI and automation to smart infrastructure and immersive design, future-readiness is the new currency of employability. On World Youth Skills Day 2025, industry leaders are stepping forward with intent, showing that skilling isn’t just a CSR checkbox—it’s a national imperative and a strategic business investment.

Godrej Enterprises Group, whose flagship initiative Project Disha continues to make a measurable impact. Launched in 2011, the program has touched over 200,000 young lives. In FY25 alone, more than 9,000 candidates were trained, with an impressive 45% securing employment, particularly in manufacturing roles critical to India’s growth trajectory. 

“With a significant youth population, India is uniquely positioned to leverage its demographic dividend,” says Ashwini Deodeshmukh, Head, CSR & Sustainability Reporting, Godrej Enterprises Group. “However, young people must be prepared to take on roles shaped by rapid technological shifts. Through Project Disha and our partnerships with ITIs in Maharashtra, we are modernising traditional trades and introducing digital orientation—helping shape an inclusive, future-ready workforce.” 

For real estate major Emaar India, digital disruption is driving a new skilling agenda. With AI transforming design and customer service, and technologies like AR/VR, IoT, Blockchain, and Big Data reshaping the sector, young professionals need more than brick-and-mortar skills.

“We believe that the real estate sector plays an important role in this evolving skilling ecosystem,” says Madhuri Mehta, CHRO & Head – Communities, Emaar India Limited. “We aim to build talent with purpose by imparting future-ready skills, fostering leadership, and creating inclusive growth pathways aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.” 

Experion Technologies is redefining youth development by nurturing not just skills, but character and confidence. Through a vibrant learning culture, constant campus engagement, and mentorship frameworks like Maestro, the company fosters long-term career and personal growth.

“Young minds aren’t just resources—they’re futures to be shaped,” emphasises Jijo Joseph, Director – People & Culture, Experion Technologies. “As the world moves faster, the gap between education and employability must be bridged by industry. We’re proud to play our part—not just building careers, but nurturing capability in a way that respects learning, resilience, and individual passion.” 

At the intersection of innovation and automotive engineering, HARMAN Automotive, a Samsung subsidiary, is cultivating talent through its in-house HARMAN University. Its multifaceted programs—from the Automotive Bootcamp to hybrid leadership pathways—equip youth for real-world tech challenges. 

“Our programs deliver practical, inclusive learning opportunities across functions like finance, HR, IT, and core engineering,” shares Nagendra Prasad, Sr. Director, HR Business Partner, HARMAN Automotive. 

“We focus on building not just job-ready professionals, but future-ready leaders for a connected world.” 

With AI projected to add $13 trillion to global GDP by 2030, the need to prepare a digitally literate and innovation-ready workforce is critical.  For Imarticus Learning, that means anticipating and shaping demand. “We’ve seen a 118% surge in demand for AI-related courses,” says Nikhil Barshikar, Founder & CEO. 

“As the pace of automation accelerates, the responsibility of upskilling lies with both the government and education companies like ours. Hence, it is imperative to equip the next generation with not just technical skills, but the ability to responsibly contribute to the digital economy.” 

World Youth Skills Day is more than a calendar date—it is a clarion call. A call for collaboration across government, industry, and academia. A call for action, not intent. The good news? India Inc. is listening, responding, and leading from the front. From the shop floor to smart cities, from code to construction—young India is being armed with the skills to not just adapt to the future, but to define it.