Time for a Skill Census in India?

Happy Monday, guys!!! I hope you are all doing well ?? Now that it's raining in Bangalore, I'm loving my coffee even more. Is it just me, or does coffee taste better when it’s pouring outside? Anyway, let’s talk about something more interesting …

Whenever I interact with college students and even working professionals, I get these questions a lot: How can I stand out in this crazy job market? How do I land that dream job? Well, it's a valid concern.

And I tell them to keep the bigger picture in mind always. Hustle strategically. Continuously work on improving your skills. Because the world's getting more competitive, and to land that dream job or build a successful career, you gotta be prepared.

That's why I wanted to talk about something called a Skill Census.

So, recently Chandrababu Naidu suggested conducting a “Skill Census” instead of a Caste Census. This involves collecting information about people’s skills and the skills needed. This census would give us a clear picture of our workforce’s abilities and gaps. This kind of data is gold when it comes to matching people's abilities to job opportunities, allowing India to maximize its human capital.

Let's understand the current skill landscape.

Right now, India has a mixed bag when it comes to skills. We have a large, young population, with over half under the age of 25. That’s a lot of potential! However, we also face high rates of unemployment and underemployment. Many people have degrees but lack the skills needed for the jobs available. According to recent reports, the percentage of the workforce with formal vocational or technical training has improved but remains relatively low. This mismatch is a big problem that needs addressing.

If we implement a Skill Census, here's what we can learn:

#1 Skills India Needs - We can pinpoint exactly which skills are missing in different industries across the country. This way, we can fix any gaps in our education and training systems. For example, if there's a shortage of AI/ML engineers or healthcare professionals, we can create targeted training programs to get more people on board.

#2 Global Skills in Demand - It can help figure out which skills are in high demand globally. This means we can customize our training programs to equip our workforce with these skills, making them more competitive on a global scale. Imagine all the amazing opportunities this opens up – working abroad, gaining incredible experience, and maybe even sending some money back home to boost the economy.

#3 Training for Sought-After Skills - With this Skill Census data in our hands, we can develop and implement effective training programs. We're talking about designing courses that cover both the skills we need right now and the ones we'll need in the future. Basically, making sure educational institutions and training centers are in sync with what the job market requires.

So here's what I think: The idea of having a Skill Census is not just good; it’s crucial. It could transform India. For this to work, the government and businesses need to collaborate, ensuring training programs that match market demands and prepare everyone to succeed in the job market. Plus, this wouldn't just benefit cities. By building those skills in rural areas, we're talking about creating local jobs, growing the economy, and improving life for everyone.

This Skill Census could be the key to unlocking the potential of our workforce, smashing that $5 trillion economy goal by 2025. This initiative will greatly benefit India’s economy because, with over half of its population under 25, it’s important to understand their skills to create future job opportunities. Our future looks very promising.

Well, that’s it for this Monday. I’d love to know what you think about the idea of a Skill Census. Do share your thoughts in the comments below.

Until next time, Stay Curious!

Signing off, Raghav.