Odisha Pitches Industry-Linked Skilling to Build Future-Ready Workforce

Bhubaneswar: With a focus on aligning youth skills with emerging employment opportunities, Odisha is undertaking a series of reforms to modernise its skilling ecosystem and strengthen industry-driven training, Industry, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said.

Speaking at the regional Skill Ministers’ Conference ‘Kaushal Manthan’ in Kolkata, Swain outlined Odisha’s initiatives to prepare its workforce for the changing demands of the job market. The conference was chaired by Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary and attended by skill development ministers and senior officials from several states and Union Territories.

Swain said Odisha is working towards creating a comprehensive skilling ecosystem that connects training, technology, industry and employment. The state is modernising its Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), expanding World Skill Centres and setting up industry-linked Centres of Excellence focused on emerging and future skills.

He said the government is also developing pathways for skilled youth to access international employment opportunities, while ensuring that training programmes remain aligned with the requirements of the evolving global workplace.

“Skill development is the new currency,” Swain said, underlining the importance of equipping young people with skills that can help them adapt to emerging technologies and changing employment patterns.

The minister stressed that the success of any skilling programme should ultimately be measured by its ability to translate training into meaningful employment and sustainable livelihoods. He called for deeper collaboration between governments and industry to identify emerging skill requirements and accordingly shape training programmes.

He also highlighted Odisha’s commitment to contributing to the national vision of a developed India by 2047, saying a skilled and employable workforce would be central to achieving the goal.

The deliberations at the conference covered a range of initiatives, including PM SETU, strengthening ITIs, enhancing industry linkages and preparing young people for future employment opportunities.

Swain emphasised that greater coordination among states, industry and other stakeholders would help create a more integrated skill ecosystem and enable states to learn from and replicate successful models.

The conference was attended by Skill Development Ministers and senior officials from Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, providing a platform for sharing experiences and discussing strategies for building a future-ready workforce.