A balanced workforce is the key to achieving and more importantly sustaining economic growth. In India, however, the thrust in terms of skill development has been lopsided so far. “While universities and other educational institutes have been conscientious in producing highly skilled and qualified professionals who are engaged in high-end functions, there has been an appaling dearth of initiative to train and upgrade people who are essentially engaged in support functions,” observes Chris Humphries, chief executive, UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

He cites an example: “While on one hand there is an overflow of research and scientists in the domain of information technology, on the other there is a pressing need for skilled supervisors and quality technicians. This deficit at the middle-level is true for all sectors. For ideas and strategies to effectively generate into tangible outcomes it is extremely necessary to have an efficient middle rung, as most of the implementation support comes from this cadre of professionals.”

According to Humphries, deficit in terms of skill upgradation of the middle or intermediate workforce is a problem faced not just by India but by many countries of the developed world like the UK, Australia and New Zealand as well. And the implications, he says, are quite serious in the long run.

COMMON DIFFERENCE

Although skill shortage at the intermediate level is common to both India and the UK, Humphries believes there are some ‘interesting differences’ between the two economies that will lead to a slightly different set of repercussions. He adds, “In India, there is a burgeoning young workforce. A sizeable proportion of this is absorbed in the intermediate crust of the economy. Within the next 10 to 15 years, a considerable portion of this workforce should progress qualitatively to the higher strata of the economy. However, if they are not regularly upgraded with new and relevant skills, India will eventually lose out in terms of leveraging the advantage of its young workforce.”

The UK, on the other hand, is suffering from a ‘fast ageing workforce and diminishing young workforce.’ The falling birth rates from the 1990s specifically indicate that young people entering the workforce will be progressively lesser in the near future. “Research has revealed that, currently, training for older workers or managerial level employees in the UK is much more in comparison to training for younger workers. So, in the UK, there is greater need and scope for basic skills training to make young people more employable,” opines Humphries.

As for the possible solution, he says, “In many countries, including India, there is a dearth of quality formal institutions that impart vocational skills or provide short-term courses for skill upgradation. For instance, the Industrial Training Institutes are becoming redundant as their curriculum is outdated. So, there is an urgent need to strengthen the system of industry and academia interface.”

source: TOI