Preparing India’s Workforce for Technological Job Changes

Source: The post Preparing India’s Workforce for Technological Job Changes has been created, based on the article “Let’s act now to create a resilient, adaptable and skilled workforce” published in “Live mint” on 2nd January 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-Growth, development and employment.

Context: The article discusses the need for India to prepare for job changes due to technology advancements. It highlights the need to update education, enhance government-industry partnerships, and promote international skill mobility to ensure the workforce adapts and thrives in the evolving job market.

For detailed information on India’s Role in the Global Job Market read this article here

What is the Current State of the Global and Indian Job Market?

1. The global job market will see 83 million jobs disappear and 69 million new ones emerge in the next five years.
2. In India, to utilize its demographic advantage, about 7.85 million jobs need to be created annually until 2030 in the non-farm sector.

How are Different Sectors Transforming?

1. Manufacturing: Integration of AI and IoT is reshaping the industry. Example: In Howrah, AI is used in predictive maintenance for Indian Railways’ Vande Bharat trains, detecting 22 faults.
2. FMCG: Transition to data-driven roles. Hindustan Unilever runs over 13 billion AI computations daily to predict consumer behavior.
3. Healthcare: Increased use of AI for diagnostics. Apollo Hospital uses an AI-based system to assist in clinical decisions.
4. Energy: Focus on renewable sources. India’s aim for 500GW of renewable capacity by 2030 is expected to create 3.4 million clean-energy jobs.

How Can India Prepare Its Workforce?

To effectively prepare its workforce for future challenges, India can:

1. Update Educational Curricula: Integrate skills such as AI, automation, IoT, and critical thinking into educational and vocational training systems.
2. Strengthen Government-Industry Collaboration: Utilize initiatives like the Skill India Mission and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to align training with dynamic industry needs. Programs like PM Vishwakarma Yojana bridge traditional skills with modern technologies.
3. Enable International Skill Mobility: Offer globally recognized certifications to help the workforce compete internationally.

Why Is This Important?

1. Adapting to these changes is essential for India to stay competitive globally.
2. It transforms demographic challenges into opportunities and positions India as a leader in shaping the future job market.
3. Immediate and collaborative efforts are necessary to maximize India’s demographic dividend and turn it into a global economic advantage.

Question for practice:

Examine how the integration of advanced technologies like AI and IoT in sectors such as manufacturing, FMCG, and healthcare is transforming the job market in India.