Employability Skills in Higher Education Sector in India

Abstract

The youth of India constitutes 28 percent of the Country's population and never before have there been so many young people; never again is there likely to be such potential for economic and social progress. How we meet the needs and aspirations of young people will define the common future. India as a developing Country needs to invest heavily in young people's education and health and protect their rights. The formal system of skilled workforce creation by way of Industrial Training Institutes/ Industrial schools produces only 2 percent people. It is very meager when compared to the skilled workforce of 47 percent in China and 80 percent in Japan. Livelihood opportunities are affected by supply and demand mismatch. On the supply side, India is failing to create enough job opportunities; and on the demand side, professionals entering the job market are lacking in skill sets. This results to the rising unemployment rates along with low employability issues. Skilling is the key to unlock this mismatch between the existing educational scenario and the industrial requirement.