As momentum builds toward one of the world’s most influential gatherings on skills development, international leaders met in Vienna to help shape the agenda for WorldSkills Conference 2026. Hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), members of the WorldSkills Conference Coalition convened at UNIDO headquarters on 2 March to advance preparations for the global event.

WorldSkills Conference 2026: Shaping a skills-driven future, will unite policymakers, government officials, industry leaders, educators, and young people from 23 to 25 September in Shanghai, China. The Conference will take place alongside the 48th WorldSkills Competition, the world’s largest skills competition.

The discussions were an opportunity for representatives of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China, and WorldSkills International to present key milestones and updates in preparations for the three-day Conference.

The WorldSkills Conference Coalition — which brings together global, regional, and national organisations to help shape a Conference programme that inspires bold thinking and progress in skills development — was represented in person by the OECD, the World Bank, GAN Global, the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), UNESCO-UNEVOC, the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. The ILO, UNESCO, the African Union, and the European Commission participated online.

Discussions focused on shaping the content and speakers for the sessions, connecting each contribution to the overarching goals of accelerating inclusion, innovation, and international cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

A preview of the full programme offers a first look at Conference sessions, covering topics from AI and the future workforce, to green skills policy, inclusive TVET systems, and the WorldSkills Vision 2035. Notably, the programme also opens the door to meetings that are ordinarily closed to the general public, including the Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Following the fresh insights of the WorldSkills Conference Coalition in Vienna, the first wave of confirmed speakers, new sessions, and a more comprehensive overview are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The Conference has already generated strong interest from Education Ministers from around the world and WorldSkills Global Partners. Keynote addresses from industry leaders are among the highlights to come, reflecting the central role that industry plays in shaping tomorrow’s skills agenda.

Demand-Driven Skills for Youth Empowerment and Industrial Transformation

The following day, partners of the WorldSkills Conference Coalition joined UNIDO’s event “Demand-Driven Skills for Youth Empowerment and Industrial Transformation”. Their contributions helped shape a wide-ranging discussion on advancing demand-driven skills development, from the role of quality TVET and industry collaboration, to placing youth at the centre, and leveraging data for better-informed skills systems.

The event drew 211 online participants from 89 organizations across 75 countries and all continents, including representatives from several UNIDO Permanent Missions – among them Ghana, Kenya, Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, and Switzerland.

Francis Hourant, President of WorldSkills, delivered a keynote speech highlighting the shared commitment of UNIDO and WorldSkills to strengthening quality assurance in TVET, developing industry-relevant occupational standards, and promoting excellence as a lever for systemic reform.

“The collective leadership and partnership represented today are strengthening the global skills community. The future of TVET is not a distant aspiration – it is being written now,” he said, stressing that youth inclusion is central to shaping the skills agenda. “Elevating the youth voice is not only about representation; it is about co-creation. It transforms skills development from a system designed for young people into one built with them. This is more than an education issue – it is essential to maximizing human potential.”

The youth perspective was well represented at the event with WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe, Nurit Davidowicz, moderating a panel that explored how countries can better identify the skills young people need for employment. Following the panel, Ms Davidowicz shared her story through a speech and delivered a key message to policymakers.

“Only in collaboration and in coexistence will all of us find the right environment. It is the key for creating youth that wants to lead and whose fires are big. It’s the key for creating youth that want to work. Only with the right environment can the future of industry be created. Only by supporting and including the youth, industries and countries can thrive. Young people can be a huge contributor to the environment needed for the world, but only if each of you pay attention,” she said.

Jia Jie, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China, joined Mr Hourant in welcoming attendees to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and WorldSkills Conference 2026, reflecting on WorldSkills impact on China’s skills system.

“China has leveraged WorldSkills to reshape the paradigm of skills competitions, igniting passion for skills among the younger generation and enhancing recognition of skills and skilled workers,” said Mr Jia. “Beyond the competition, the Ministry has established four research centres on WorldSkills. One of their major tasks is to translate WorldSkills Occupational Standards into the daily curriculum, creating much broader impact on our TVET system.”

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