A Digitally Unprepared Workforce

Why in news?

The need for the digital jobs is in high demand and India’s demographic divided could be a leverage if the youth are equipped with adequate digital skills.

What are the challenges to digital workforce?

• Pace of technological change - Continues to accelerate and demand for such skills doesn’t meet the skill supply.
• Availability of training is not available in wide range - The training provided by the government is available only in the few areas within the digital space.
• Artificial intelligence - According to World Economic Forum the AI will replace the jobs of the digital workforce but also create new jobs in different fields.
• Lack of skills in Data-driven field - The jobs of the future are expected to rely more on data-driven and machine-powered processes.
• Disproportionate enrolment - Youth enroll in IT-ITeS vocational or technical courses, with a significantly high percentage of 34.7%, in comparison to other courses.
• Inadequate training - 29% of the 30% trained workforce are unemployed due to inadequate training content or poor training quality.

What can be done to address the digital skills crisis?

• Revamping skills - To adapt to the changing job market the entire skill development system needs to be restructured.
• Upskilling - To upskill the workforce in line with the emerging technologies.
• Strategic investment - Particularly in the reskilling of the workforce to keep up with the digital transformation.
• Skill India Mission and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0. - Needs to be implemented efficiency to provide digital skills on digital skills on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, mechatronics and robotics.

Quick facts

References

1. The Hindu Business Line│ Digitally Unprepared Workforce
2. WEF│ Reports Of WEF
3. WEF│ About WEF