What is ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS)?
AYOS is a collective ASEAN initiative – a unified effort to empower its people, build resilience, and ensure the ASEAN region remains competitive on the global stage.
AYOS 2025 Overview
As the ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia will also be spearheading the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing the region’s talent and workforce capabilities to address the region’s rapidly evolving economic landscape.
AYOS 2025 is a unique year-long effort to rally ASEAN member states to collaborate in developing programmes and initiatives that are geared towards providing skills and development opportunities to the region’s workforce and talents.
AYOS 2025 will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), Malaysia, through its agency Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
AYOS 2025 represents ASEAN’s commitment to leveraging its diverse workforce, addressing regional inequalities and unlocking the potential of its youth to capitalise on opportunities presented by demographic shifts and the future of work.
It will focus on the following core aspirations:
Bridging Skills Gaps:
Empowering the ASEAN workforce with new skills and knowledge aligned to emerging jobs and addressing critical skills shortages.
Youth Empowerment:
Preparing the youth for future-proof careers by equipping them with the right skills and opportunities.
Enhancing Workforce Resilience:
Promoting sustainable productivity and adaptability through comprehensive skills development programmes.
Key Objectives of ASEAN Year Of Skills
AYOS 2025 represents a collective effort to equip ASEAN with a resilient, adaptable, and skilled workforce. It emphasizes: For ASEAN, AYOS 2025 aims to:
Bridge Existing Skills Gap
Address disparities in skills development across Member States.
Promote Talent Mobility
Facilitate the seamless movement of skilled workers across borders.
Ensure Inclusive Growth
Empower all segments of society, especially the youth and underserved communities.
Strengthen Regional Collaboration
Unite governments, industries, and institutions to create cohesive strategies.
Enhance Public Private Partnership
Foster stronger cooperation between sectors to drive innovation and adaptability.
