G20 Fancourt Declaration puts skills and inclusion at the heart of growth

The G20 Labour and Employment Ministers have adopted the Fancourt Declaration, placing skills development and youth empowerment at the centre of their agenda for a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future of work.

The meeting was held under the theme ‘Living and Working in an Unequal World: Ensuring Decent Work and Decent Lives’, and aligned with South Africa’s G20 Presidency overarching theme, ‘Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability’.

The Declaration recognizes that more than 267 million young people worldwide are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), with disadvantaged youth, including young women, youth with disabilities, and those affected by poverty or displacement, most at risk of long-term exclusion.

To address this, G20 members committed to promoting policies that provide quality jobs and access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET), apprenticeships, and lifelong learning. They also recognized the urgent need to expand youth training in response to rapid labour market changes, and align training with the needs of the green, digital, and care economies.

The impact and implementation of the G20 Fancourt Declaration will be explored when the global skills community gathers at WorldSkills Conference 2026 in Shanghai. Ministers, education innovators, and industry leaders will examine how this agreement can inspire bold action in skills development, transform education systems, and shape the future of work.

The Declaration highlighted how policies should target young people facing barriers linked to poverty, exclusion, displacement, or limited opportunities, to ‘prevent the marginalization of a new generation’. It also stressed the importance of reducing gender inequalities in the workforce, addressing broader inequities, and strengthening inclusion and social protection.

Held in George, Western Cape, South Africa, the meeting was attended by more than 150 delegates, with many partner organizations of WorldSkills and representatives of the WorldSkills Conference Coalition taking part. Among them were labour and employment ministers from G20 members, invited countries, the European Union, and the African Union, as well as international organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

Read the full G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Declaration (Fancourt Declaration) (PDF, 362KB).

Make plans to attend WorldSkills Conference 2026 in Shanghai in September 2026.