World Bank study says services sector, agriculture offer skilling opportunities

News: A skill gap study ‘Jobs at Your Doorsteps’, by World Bank, has found service and agriculture sector jobs present large opportunities for school-based skilling. The study is based on availability of skill education and jobs in Himanchal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

1. The study focussed on areas like ways to scale up skill education and identification of market-oriented skills.

2. In the primary sectors, the study gave attention to the agriculture and mining sectors. In the agricultural sector, it found more opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship, income enhancement by working in own farms.

3. The mining sector has low potential to become a significant employer from school to work perspective because of hazardous working conditions and high demand of unskilled labour.

4. In the secondary sectors, the manufacturing sector offers medium level opportunities after skilled schooling.

5. In the tertiary sector, large opportunities are offered in retail, information technology, and related domains, requiring exposure to multiple skills.