As India celebrates National Youth Day, the focus shifts to equipping the country’s youth with the skills necessary to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly evolving global economy. With a large portion of India’s population under 35, leveraging this demographic dividend through skilling and upskilling is crucial for sustainable economic growth and individual success.
Kartik Narayan, CEO-Staffing, TeamLease, emphasized the growing importance of skill development: “Upskilling is paramount for India’s youth workforce to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. Our recent report reveals that 92% of Indian youth recognise a skills gap, with 76% feeling personally impacted. This underscores the need for continuous skill development to enhance employability and meet industry demands. Our latest employment outlook report highlights the increasing demand for skilled talent across various sectors, including electronics, automotive, textiles, chemicals, and the tech and startup ecosystem. It emphasises the critical need for upskilling to bridge skill gaps and meet evolving industry needs. Upskilling is not merely about acquiring new skills but also about maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing job market. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential to harness India’s demographic dividend and ensure sustainable economic progress.”
Skilling for the Digital Revolution
Darshil Shah, Founder and Director of TreadBinary, highlighted the critical role of technology in skilling: “In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, skilling is no longer an option but a necessity for empowering the youth to lead the digital revolution. In this fast-moving world, where technology is everywhere, being able to learn and use new skills isn’t just good for individuals—it leads to the collective progress of our society. Skilling also helps develop an entrepreneurial spirit, problem-solving skills, and valuable knowledge, which further propels the establishment of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Skilling enables young people to bridge the gap between education and employability, preparing them to meet the demands of ever-evolving industries. What’s even more exciting is that today’s youth can use technology itself to learn and develop new skills. With online courses, tutorials, and digital tools, they have endless opportunities to upskill and stay ahead of the curve. It’s all about using technology positively, to unlock their potential. We must collectively recognize that investing in the skill development of our young population is not just an economic imperative, but a moral responsibility to empower them to build a more inclusive and prosperous future.”
AI and Emerging Industries: New Frontiers
Jaideep Kewalramani, COO and Head of Employability Business at TeamLease Edtech, stressed the growing demand for AI literacy and work-integrated learning programs: “2025 is the year of AI. Corporates today expect the youth to hit the ground running by demonstrating the power of digital and relevant work experience. Lifelong learning and upskilling through work-integrated learning programs is an innovative way to jump-start careers. AI literacy is now an entry-level expectation as all organizations have, in some form or way, embraced AI. Industries like BFSI, Retail, and FMCD are eager to welcome talent, with opportunities spanning sales, back office, and customer support. Additionally, sunrise sectors like green energy, EV technology, space tech, drones, and autonomous vehicles require talent that can push the boundaries of innovation.”