SKILLING OPPORTUNITIES - ECONOMY

SKILLING OPPORTUNITIES - ECONOMY

NEWS: Service sector jobs and agriculture income enhancement present large opportunities for school based skilling.

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Overview of the Study

  • Title: “Jobs at Your Doorsteps”
  • Prepared by: World Bank.
  • Focus: Skill gap analysis based on the availability of skill education and job opportunities in select Indian states.
  • States Analyzed: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
  • Report Release: Presented by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
  • Key Questions Addressed:
    • How can skill education be scaled and strengthened?
    • Which skills are most relevant to local economic needs?

Opportunities for School-based Skilling

  • Key Sectors Identified: Agriculture and Service Sector.
  • Purpose: Enhance school-to-work transition through targeted skill development.
  • Focus: Bridging the gap between education and employment by aligning skills with job market needs.

Demand in Various Economic Sectors

  • High Demand Sectors: Identified 14 key sectors and corresponding trades.
  • Significance: These sectors cater to a significant portion of high-demand jobs suitable for school-to-work pathways.

Agriculture Sector Analysis

  • Opportunities:
    • Significant potential for job creation.
    • Enhances income in own farms.
    • Offers possibilities for entrepreneurship.
  • Recommended Focus Areas:
    • Horticulture and Gardening: Scope for job creation.
    • Dairy Farming & Livestock Health: Employment in veterinary and livestock management.
    • Aquaculture and Fisheries: Rising demand for skills in fish farming and aquaculture.
  • Insights: Agriculture shows strong potential for school-based skilling with an emphasis on self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Mining Sector Insights

  • Employment Potential: Did not rank as a significant employer for school-to-work transitions.
  • Challenges:

·         Hazardous working conditions.

·         High reliance on unskilled labor.

  • Conclusion: Mining sector may not provide a sustainable employment pathway for skilled graduates due to safety concerns.

Manufacturing Sector (Secondary Sector)

  • Opportunities:
    • Offers medium-level job opportunities post skilled schooling.
    • Both MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) and large industries exhibit interest.
  • MSMEs:
    • Require multi-skill exposure for hires.
    • Willing to offer career growth and competitive pay.
  • Large Industries:
    • Preference for candidates with proper certifications (equivalent to ITI).
    • Emphasis on comprehensive skill building during schooling.
    • Open to collaboration for designing curricula, conducting guest lectures, etc.
  • Key Requirement: Certification and skill development are crucial for school-based skilling success in manufacturing.

Service Sector (Tertiary Sector)

  • Employment Scope: Identified as a high-potential sector across the country.
  • Key Areas:
    • Retail: Demand for customer service and sales skills.
    • Information Technology (IT): Requires multi-skills, including technical proficiency.
    • Banking: High demand for finance-related skills.
  • Common Requirements:
    • Multi-skills and knowledge exposure.
    • Emphasis on “Employability Skills” – communication, teamwork, problem-solving, etc.
  • Significance: Service sector offers the largest opportunities for school-based skilling, catering to diverse job markets.

General Insights on Skill Education

  • Employability Skills: Recognized as a crucial requirement across all sectors.
  • Multi-skill Exposure: High demand for candidates with diverse skill sets that align with the evolving job market.
  • School Curriculum: Focus needed on developing versatile skill sets and industry-specific competencies.
  • Collaboration Opportunities: Industry readiness to collaborate with educational institutions for skill-building, including curriculum design and mentorship.

Recommendations for Government Focus

  • State and Central Government Priorities:
    • Investment in agriculture-related skills (horticulture, dairy, fisheries).
    • Promote entrepreneurship through agriculture-based skilling.
  • Manufacturing: Encourage certification and structured skill training programs aligned with industry needs.
  • Service Sector: Support skill development in IT, banking, retail, and other high-demand fields through multi-skill programs.

Conclusion

  • The study emphasizes the need for targeted, region-specific skill development to enhance employability.
  • Highlighting agriculture and service sectors as key areas for skill investment can drive school-based skilling.
  • A collaborative effort between educational institutions, industries, and government is essential to scale and strengthen skill education, ultimately creating a robust pathway from school to work.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/business/world-bank-study-recommends-skill-based-training-to-enhance-jobs-in-multiple-sectors/article68899447.ece