Bridging the skill gap

BRIDGING THE SKILL GAP

 What is BRIDGING THE SKILL GAP?

Bridging the skill gap means reducing the difference between the skills that organisations want and the skills that their workforce offer.

With the increase in the number of graduates and working population annually, employability and skilling have become two of the biggest challenges for the country’s growth.

STATISTICS

India, which is projected to be the world’s youngest country, encompasses the world’s largest youth population with 356 million people in the age group of 10-25 years [United Nations report (2014)].

 According to a report, there is an overall positive trend in talent supply as over 47.68 per cent of the graduates were found to be employable in 2019 against only 33 per cent in 2014 [India Skills Report (2019) released by the Confederation of Indian Industries]. 

ACTUAL PROBLEM

The youth in our country face multiple obstacles in finding desirable and suitable job opportunities despite receiving quality education from good institutions. It is ironic that educational institutions across the country are training millions of youth annually but the industry often complaints about the inadequacy of necessary skills among them desired for a suitable job.

Every organisation has to spend on the training sessions of the newly hired employees before giving them the actual task or work of the organization.

THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE

The study proves that employees are not the only beneficiaries of measures for bridging skills gaps; companies and their immediate environment benefit too. The measures boost staff productivity, product quality, innovations, job security, employee satisfaction and motivation and the image a company has. Ultimately, bridging skills gaps with local populations means a stronger anchoring of businesses in communities and subsequently a wider acceptance in society. Some of the things that can be done in order to bridge this skill gap are:-

• Understanding what skills are actually needed by different organisations.
• A good corporate training program should be started by the organisations for the college students in order to make them corporate ready.
• Education policies should be made in which college academics course should be formed in such a way to incorporate industry skills.
• Develop a platform for internships, certifications and courses by the government at a much more reasonable rate so that local youth can get more opportunities for upskilling.
• Voluntary employee mentorship programs within the organisation could be beneficial.
• A skill gap analysis should be done in order to keep a check.
• Job advertisements for hiring should focus more on desired knowledge, skills and abilities for the particular job rather than education, experience or other requirements.
• Upskilling and reskilling will also help to fill a skills gap.

Bridging the skill gap analysis can be time-consuming. But the results are worth it.