The Gen’s Talk It Out: Key Takeaways from the “Decent Work, Brighter Futures” Talk Series
Co-authored by
Sara Elder, Head, Employment Analyses & Economic Policies Unit, International Labour Organization
Ioanna Tzardi, Communications Officer, International Labour Organization
The Decent Work, Brighter Futures Talk Series – hosted by YouthForesight in collaboration with the TASC Platform of the Geneva Graduate Institute – celebrates two decades of insights from the ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth (GET for Youth) reports. Inspired by the 20th-anniversary edition of the report, four intergenerational dialogues were held to explore how youth employment challenges and aspirations have evolved over the years region by region.
Over four episodes, young professionals (Gen Z) and those with a few more years under their belts (Gen X) shared experiences, frustrations and aspirations, bridging perspectives on youth labour market transitions and how “decent work” is perceived across regions. Most sessions took place virtually, while the intergenerational dialogue for Europe was held in hybrid format at the state-of-the-art Geneva Graduate Institute.
Covering four distinct regions:
Asia: Watch Episode 1
Europe: Watch Episode 3
Latin America & the Caribbean: Watch Episode 4
Africa: Watch Episode 2
Some Highlights:
There was a general consensus that current times are more challenging for young people striving for “success” in their labour market transition, partly because of the added complexities of the digital world and the increasingly freelance nature of jobs.
“Freelancing was the only option available to me because you couldn’t be underpaid, and at least freelancing got me hired.”
Michelle Olguin (Gen Z, Europe)
“When every employer wanted more experience than I had, I felt discouraged. But I reminded myself why I was working so hard – to improve my family’s quality of life. That kept me motivated to keep pushing forward.”
Estefanía de la A. (Gen Z, Latin America & the Caribbean)
Labour market trajectories can be ‘messy’, which is okay as long as young people feel supported in their capacity to experiment and are able to build connections along the way.
We need a proactive and constructive hope narrative that can really give you agency and hope. Change can come from how you treat your colleague and advance social purpose in your own sphere of influence.
Davide Fanciulli (Gen Z, Europe)
Having fresh university knowledge is great, but seeing how things work in the real world changed everything. A program that let me apply what I learned – while still studying – gave me the experience I needed and showed me I could keep growing.
Estefanía de la A. (Gen Z, Latin America & the Caribbean)
In regions like Asia and Africa, where opportunities for steady paid work are few, youth can be empowered to create their own opportunities through entrepreneurship.
“Starting my career during COVID-19 taught me resilience. I ventured into a field I love – education – even though I studied accounting… Launching a business is tough, but it showed me that entrepreneurship can empower our communities and help us shape our own futures.”
Ni Putu Ari Sintya Dewi (Gen Z, Asia & the Pacific)
Supporting young people and their labour market transitions means providing as many options as possible, helping them to know themselves and keeping their hopes alive.
“One day, I told him that I would become a mentor like him, and we laughed. But three or five months later, I actually did become a mentor. Students look up to me and share their problems and I realized how important mentorship is.”
Hack Yacoubou (Gen Z, Africa)
“We have to connect our financial and non-financial initiatives so that young people not only have the resources, but also the competencies to start and sustain their businesses.”
Oyindamola Egbeyemi (Gen X/Y, Africa)
“Safe career paths closed down, pushing me into unexpected opportunities. As a migrant child facing language barriers, I discovered new paths and realized I could still succeed in areas I never expected.”
Mi Zhou (Gen X, Asia & the Pacific)
What was once considered “normal” in the workplace is now questioned – an intergenerational shift driven by growing awareness and learning across generations, especially woman to woman.
“Looking back, we worked in extremely male-dominated environments, but we didn’t even notice it; we simply accepted it as normal. Now we have the awareness and the arguments to challenge those things, so the next generation won’t experience them.”
Johanna (Gen X, Latin America & the Caribbean)
There has been a shift over time, with young people today putting the protection of their well-being as an expectation of their workplace as well as its social purpose.
“Mental health, resilience and how to create a work environment that is not toxic and that allows for a healthy space of work are important job characteristics [that young people look for today].”
Mia Seppo (Gen X, Europe)
“Decent work isn’t just about income; it’s about a positive and supportive environment with a strong sense of purpose that allows you to grow personally and professionally.”
Ni Putu Ari Sintya Dewi (Gen Z, Asia & the Pacific)
Want to learn more?
Watch the recordings and join the conversation at the YouthForesight Forum. Together, let’s keep shaping the future of work!