The Need for Digital Upskilling of Employees

The Need for Digital Upskilling of Employees

As the pace of technological change accelerates and demand for such skills exceeds supply, Digital literacy and upskilling are no longer an option, but a necessity. of National Sample Survey (NSS) (2020-21) and LFPS 2020-21 It indicates the need to broaden the reach of IT or computer-based training across different sectors.

is also Future of Work 2023 Report (Four^th edition; recently released by World Economic Forum (WEF) to emphasize Create 97 million new jobs by 2025 in order to Technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and other fields.

In spite of the Initiatives for Digital LiteracyIndia still has a long way to go It is on par with countries with a highly skilled workforce.

The Indian government, businesses and educational institutions are urgently needed. Invest in digital upskilling initiatives to close existing digital gaps and remain competitive and relevant in the global marketplace.

What does the WEF report say about technological progress and job creation?

• An optimistic but cautious forecast: WEF predicts: 85 million jobs will be obsolete by 2025technological advances in AI and other fields Creation of 97 million new jobs.

  • but The role of machines in the division of labor has become more and more important, Especially for repetitive and routine tasks.
  • What jobs are expected in the future We need to rely more on data-driven, machine-driven processes.

• Technology-driven shift in India: The WEF also Negligible turnover of jobs in the Indian labor market over the next five years compared to Global average of 23%. Churn in India is largely technology-driven through sectors such as: AI & ML (machine learning) (38%), followed by Data analysts and scientists (33%) and data entry clerks (32%).

  • of The lowest turnover is, as expected, in the labor-intensive segment. of the economy.
  • However, the report also shows employers India and China remain the most optimistic in terms of future talent availability.

What factors indicate that the Indian workforce is not digitally ready?

• Huge gap between supply and demand: reported that NascomDraup, Salesforce, and the current talent base of 420,000 people, 51% Gap Between AI & ML and Big Data Analytics (BDA) Talent demand and supply.

  • This gap is Pretty Bad for ML Engineers, Data Scientists, DevOps Engineers, and Data Architects Where is the gap between demand and supply 60-73%.

• Disadvantages of upskills: This problem is exacerbated by the quality of available manpower.of The overwhelming majority of engineering graduates are unemployed at your current skill level.

  • about 30% of the workforce trained in various fields has IT training, not yet 29% of individuals trained in this way are unemployed, Insufficient training content or low quality training indicates poor employability.
  • With the exception of the IT sector, overall skill acquisition efforts in various areas of the economy fall far short of what is needed.

• Lack of basic understanding of computers: What NSS 2020-21 Reveals About 42% of the country’s youth have a basic understanding of Copying or moving files or using copy-and-paste tools on your computer.

  • moreover, 10% and 8.6% has a young knowledge of Basic Arithmetic Formulas in Spreadsheets and Create electronic presentations using presentation software, Each. Only 2.4% of young people have programming skills.

• Low investment: Indian Investment in mid-career upskilling remains fairly average This is reflected in the high unemployment rate among those with higher education.

How can India digitally enable its workforce?

• Refreshing skills and investments: To adapt to the changing job market, Restructuring of the entire skill development system Focus on upskilling employees Look out for new technologies and the future of work.

  • India has an advantage over other countries. a sizeable working-age population and important youth demographics.
  • However, we cannot reap the full benefits of demographics without due diligence. Strategic investment, especially in reskilling the workforce To keep up with digital transformation.

• Special focus on IT skills: To remain competitive in the global market, more and more It is essential that individuals in all sectors have specialized IT or computer skills.

  • Recognizing this, the government has implemented several skills programs such as skill india mission and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0.

    • These initiatives are We train and certify millions of individuals in a variety of vocational skills, including IT and digital skills. It focuses on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, mechatronics and robotics.

• Alternate Talent Pool: need to build Small town digital capabilitiesobtain More women join the workstream With hybrid labor standards, Reform of vocational education From industrial training institutes and technical colleges.

  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Fundraising Funding from industry is available for these programs.
  • the government should Work with employers, training providers and workers To meet the growing needs of digital learning.