Purpose - This paper explores how skills acquisition leads to getting a 'decent job' and increases youth employability while augmenting social and economic wellbeing.

Design/Methodology/Approach - Descriptive multiple case study design was adopted, and data collection involved a variety of approaches: semi-structured interviews, conversational interviews, group interviews and reflective diaries.

Findings - The findings highlight the value of skills acquisition for youth employability. Skills training reduces poverty at the household level and improves the social worth. Additionally, it encourages self-employment, making trained members of the community act as catalysts of socio-economic transformation. Skilling offers unparalleled access to gainful employment for women thus ensuring their participation in the labour force.

Research Limitations/Implications - Although results are largely in line with some of the existing findings, it would be difficult to generalise beyond this sample without further conducting a comparative skill development assessment across different programmes within the Asia Pacific region. Even though findings have been interpreted with caution, a detailed quantitative analysis could further establish themes and correlations.

Originality/Value - Though not entirely new, an assessment of the socioeconomic impact of employability on employment and future prospects of the youth from a programme and policy perspective is essential.