WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 sets the global benchmark for skills excellence

Shanghai is set to host the 48th WorldSkills Competition, known as the 'World Skills Olympics,' from September 22 to 27, 2026. [AFP] 

This week, Shanghai, China, is hosting the 48th WorldSkills Competition. More than 1,400 talented young professionals from 73 countries and regions are expected to participate across 64 skills, making it one of the largest gatherings of skilled young people in the world. They will demonstrate excellence in occupations ranging from welding, electrical installations and automotive technology to mechatronics, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.

To the casual observer, WorldSkills may seem like just another international competition, but it is much more than that. At its core, WorldSkills is about the future of young people and the competitiveness of nations. It provides a global platform where technical talent is recognised, occupational standards are tested, emerging technologies are showcased, and countries can assess whether their skills systems are preparing young people adequately for the rapidly changing world of work.

For governments, WorldSkills provides a mirror through which countries can examine the quality and relevance of their skills development systems. When a young person competes internationally in welding, electrical installations, mechatronics or automotive technology, the performance does not reflect the competitor alone. Behind that competitor are trainers, curricula, equipment, assessment systems, training institutions and industry partnerships. International competition therefore provides valuable lessons that can be applied to national Technical and Vocational Education and Training systems.

Countries invest significantly in WorldSkills because the competition evolves alongside a rapidly changing world of work shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies. Shanghai 2026 has introduced seven new skills, including Software Testing, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Intelligent Security Technology, while the accompanying WorldSkills Conference, themed ‘Shaping a Skills-Driven Future’, brings together policymakers, industry leaders and educators to explore how skills systems can respond to technological and economic transformation.

For Africa, Shanghai 2026 is particularly significant as countries increasingly invest in skills development to address youth unemployment, industry skills gaps and competitiveness in regional and global labour markets. Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia are fielding competitors, while Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are maintaining their engagement through observer delegations. Kenya, however, despite being a WorldSkills International member, is notably absent from Shanghai 2026.

This absence is particularly significant given the progress Kenya had already made in the WorldSkills movement. Following its admission to WorldSkills International and the establishment of WorldSkills Kenya, the country organised national skills competitions, participated in continental events and ultimately competed at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, in 2024. By missing Shanghai 2026, therefore, Kenya risks losing this momentum at a time when other African countries are strengthening their participation, potentially limiting opportunities for our youth to benchmark their skills against global standards.

The concern grows when Kenya is compared with countries such as Ethiopia, which joined WorldSkills International more recently but is already fielding competitors at Shanghai 2026. Across Africa, countries are increasingly investing in skills development to address youth unemployment, improve productivity and expand labour mobility. For Kenya, this is particularly important as its priorities in TVET, industrialisation, the digital economy and international labour mobility depend on a skilled workforce that can meet both domestic and international occupational standards.

WorldSkills provides an important platform for benchmarking the quality of vocational training against international standards. When Kenyan competitors in fields such as welding, electrical work, automotive technology and mechatronics compete with their global peers, they test not only their abilities but also the quality of our training standards, equipment and curricula. Lessons from these competitions can strengthen the wider TVET system and benefit many more learners.

Another important consideration is how society values technical skills, particularly in Kenya, where we rightly celebrate athletes who carry our flag around the world. We celebrate musicians, artists, innovators and academic achievers. Young Kenyans who achieve excellence as electricians, plumbers, welders, chefs, mechanics, technicians or mechatronics specialists deserve similar national recognition. WorldSkills helps build this culture by showing that choosing a technical career is not a lesser ambition, but a pathway to professional excellence and global opportunity.

Kenya’s absence from Shanghai highlights the need to sustain its engagement with WorldSkills International and prepare early for future competitions. This requires institutionalising WorldSkills as a long-term national programme with predictable funding, strong industry participation, regular national competitions, and systematic competitor preparation. Such an approach would strengthen training standards, promote skills excellence and enhance the global competitiveness of Kenyan youth.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 ultimately reminds us that nations' future competitiveness will depend on the skills of their young people. As countries invest in preparing their youth for a rapidly changing global economy, Kenya must ensure that the gains already made through WorldSkills are not lost. Our young people have the talent; the challenge is to provide them with the opportunities and support to demonstrate it on the global stage.

The author is a TVET and Human Capital Development Consultant