Organized by the World Bank Group, the Federation of Chilean Industry (SOFOFA), the UC Chile University, and América Solidaria, the event brought together young people alongside representatives from the public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society to reflect on the labor challenges and opportunities that will shape Chile's future.
On May 26, more than 160 young people from across Chile took part in the Chile 2026 Youth Summit: Jobs of the Future, a forum for dialogue, exchange, and collective reflection designed to elevate youth perspectives amid the profound transformations reshaping the world of work.
The summit convened representatives from the public sector, private sector, academia, and civil society, and served as a consultative platform where young people could share their experiences, concerns, and proposals regarding the opportunities and challenges the country is expected to face in the coming years.
Discussions throughout the event focused on issues that will be critical to the future of Chile and the region, including digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the transition to green jobs linked to water and sustainability, and the labor challenges and opportunities associated with mining and other strategic sectors.
Through panel discussions, participatory workshops, and intergenerational dialogue, participants reflected on how to build a future of work that is more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to territorial realities.
Jean-Marc Arbogast, World Bank Group Country Manager for Chile, underscored the importance of placing youth employment at the center of the development agenda: "Employment is the foundation of development, as it is the most powerful tool for reducing poverty. That is why promoting quality jobs for young people is a central priority of our work, and we are convinced that progress on this challenge requires working alongside them and with other institutions to co-create solutions that respond to the transformations the labor market is facing today."
Carolina Sánchez, Executive Director of América Solidaria, emphasized the need to ensure that young people are actively included in these conversations: "Young people cannot be left out of discussions about the future of work. Today, we need to listen to their experiences, understand their concerns, and build opportunities together with them. We firmly believe that adolescence and youth are not simply a stage of life, but an opportunity to transform the present and the future of the country."
Rosario Navarro, President of SOFOFA, highlighted the urgency of addressing youth unemployment and strengthening the skills needed for the future: "Today, youth unemployment rates stand at 20 percent for men and 24 percent for women. This should clearly concern us, but it should also prompt action from the business community. Artificial intelligence is among the skills we need to learn, but we must also strengthen the human capabilities that make us unique, such as creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity."
Mario Ponce, Academic Vice Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, noted that preparing young people for the future of work requires both education and active engagement with the productive sectors: "The future of work is not only about what we teach young people, but also about how we listen to the productive sectors of the country and the regions in order to prepare new generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead." Referring to the rapid technological changes transforming society, he added: "I am convinced that throughout human history we have continued to grow in knowledge and human development. And we will continue to do so as long as you are here, participating and willing to think about this."
This second regional edition-following the first held in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2025-formed part of the global agenda of the World Bank Group's Youth Summit 2026, under the theme FutureWorks: Designing Jobs for the Digital Age.
