Applicants had to:

• be between 18 and 30 years old as of 1 January 2021
• be a national of an OECD country
• be fluent in English
• be highly interested in national and international debates on education and job policies, as shown by their social media activities, school/academic projects and personal interests
• be committed to participating in a number of group activities in 2021
• able to receive and reply to e-mails
• AND answer "What do you think is the most important action that political leaders should take to help young people thrive in their professional lives?" by video or text
  
  

The 20 Youthwise delegates will:

• have a voice in the OECD Youth Action Plan, by bringing their generation’s insights to the OECD and its stakeholders
• participate in webinars and consultations with member states and engage with OECD experts and members of the OECD Global Parliamentary Network, thus gaining a better understanding of how the OECD functions
• take part in the OECD I am the Future of Work campaign, by leading local events, mobilising their own networks and gathering insights to inform OECD work
• join interactive workshops with the Y20, meeting youth leaders from around the world
  
  

An inter-generational jury of OECD professionals from the Public affairs and Communications and the Public Governance directorates will review applications aiming to create a diverse, representative group of young people. Members will be announced end of March; only successful applicants will be contacted.

The standard term of appointment for each member will be from March until December 2021. Members commit to attend regular meetings with Youthwise members and contribute in meetings with OECD experts. Some reading to do ahead of time (approximately one hour per meeting) will be considered. 

Please note that, given the COVID-19 public health crisis, all Youthwise activities are currently planned as virtual events, without travel involved, though this may change as the health situation evolves.

The future of work is now. Digitalisation and globalisation have sparked radical shifts in how we live and work. The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has accelerated these beyond anything we could have imagined.

These changes raise essential questions about the precarity of our jobs, the support available if we're unable to work or retire, the skills we need for current and future jobs, the quality of those jobs, and what voice we have in shaping these outcomes.