New Delhi: In a significant move towards addressing the employment and skilling challenges facing India’s youth, Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya jointly launched the report Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People in Six States in New Delhi today. The event witnessed the participation of senior government officials, World Bank representatives, and education leaders, underscoring its importance in shaping India’s workforce for the future.
The report, prepared with support from the World Bank under the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) program, provides a comprehensive analysis of the employment landscape in six states—Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. It highlights priority sectors and roles offering high employment potential for secondary school graduates and aims to align skill education with industry-specific needs.
Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the World Bank for its detailed research, urging a pan-India framework to maximize the initiative’s impact. “Such in-depth diagnostics on skilling and jobs will enable stakeholders to create new architectures and progressive policies, empowering our population,” he said.
Emphasizing the transformative vision of NEP 2020, Shri Pradhan highlighted the integration of skill education in schools, stating, “Skilling must begin early to prepare students for future economic opportunities. A collaborative approach is essential to making India the skill capital of the world.”
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stressed the importance of broadening the definition of employment, incorporating informal education alongside formal academics. “We need to harness region-specific skills and employment potential through localized approaches, as proposed in the last budget,” he noted.
Both ministers emphasized the critical role of technological advancements and continuous upskilling in shaping the workforce to meet future economic demands.
The Government of India has set ambitious targets, including transforming the economy into a high-income country by 2047. Achieving this vision requires addressing challenges in the employment landscape through dynamic and convergent approaches.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy, reiterated the government’s commitment to skill-based education. “The NEP 2020 envisions skill education for 50% of students by 2025 and for all secondary schools by 2030,” he said.
The Jobs at Your Doorstep report aligns with these goals by offering a bottom-up approach, focusing on district-specific industry needs and embedding skill-based education from grades 9-12.
The World Bank’s STARS program plays a vital role in this initiative, working to enhance skill education and employment opportunities in six states. Country Director Auguste Tano Kouame and Lead Education Specialist Shabnam Sinha emphasized the importance of preparing students for diverse career paths through strategic linkages between education and jobs.
As India strives to bridge the skills gap and enhance youth employability, the Jobs at Your Doorstep report serves as both a diagnostic tool and a roadmap. It highlights the need for reforms that integrate vocational education with market demands, fostering a decentralized, inclusive, and sustainable vocational education sector.
With the combined efforts of government, industry, and educational institutions, India is poised to emerge as a global hub of skilled talent, driving economic growth and empowerment in the years ahead.
