Towards the first generation free of child labour

An integrated and interdependent analysis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in relation to Target 8.7

4. Quality education

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development. Major progress has been made towards increasing access to education at all levels and increasing enrolment rates in schools particularly for women and girls.

Basic literacy skills have improved tremendously, yet bolder efforts are needed to make even greater strides for achieving universal education goals. For example, the world has achieved equality in primary education between girls and boys, but few countries have achieved that target at all levels of education.

It is oriented towards technical, professional and higher education, expressing the commitment to ensure "equal access of all men and women" to it by 2030, which may only be possible with the continuity of the training path that child labour interrupts or hinders. One of the reasons for the unemployment rates –particularly among young people– is the mismatch between the supply and demand for skills. In this context, child labour is a particular concern as it interrupts or hinders their education and training trajectory, preventing children from developing essential skills for working life. Therefore, for them, labour market access is often limited to informal or low-paid jobs.