New Delhi: Engineering has long been a cornerstone of India’s development, emerging as a top career choice that shapes the nation's innovation, infrastructure, and progress. On National Engineering Day, we celebrate the vital contributions engineers make to our growth. India leads the world in producing engineering talent, with nearly 1.5 million graduates each year. Yet, despite this impressive number, the employability of these graduates remains a major challenge.
Under the theme 'Creating Solutions for a Sustainable World,' the growing skills gap highlights the need for a more integrated approach to workforce readiness. TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship is tackling this issue by combining practical, hands-on training with academic learning, aligning engineering talent more closely with industry needs. As we aim for a sustainable future, addressing these employability challenges is crucial.
As per Teamlease recent statistics, employability among engineering graduates stands over 60%, with only 45% meeting industry standards. Furthermore, a mere 10% of the 1.5 million engineers expected to graduate this fiscal year are anticipated to secure employment. These statistics highlight a significant disparity in the preparedness of engineering graduates to fulfill industry demands. The diminishing rate of placements can be attributed to the evolving job landscape propelled by rapid technological advancements, emphasising the pressing need for a stronger focus on enhancing employability through skill development.
Furthermore, NASSCOM has projected that India’s technology sector will require over 1 million engineers with advanced skills in Artificial Intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies within the next 2-3 years. Additionally, the demand-supply gap for digital talent is poised to widen from the current 25% to almost 30% by 2028. The escalating demand, fueled by the rise of AI, Electric Vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, and the growing electronics industry, underscores a critical challenge regarding the employability of engineering graduates.
As industries increasingly seek expertise in domains such as cybersecurity, IT, robotics, and data science, it is evident that conventional academic education alone is inadequate. To address this skills gap, essential measures involve the amalgamation of technical education with hands-on vocational training. The National Education Policy (NEP) recognizes this necessity and advocates for experiential learning models and apprenticeships that blend theoretical knowledge with real-world application.
A.R. Ramesh, CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, highlighted the widening gap between academic excellence and industry requirements, especially in emerging fields such as semiconductors, AI, and automation. To address this issue, apprenticeships and internships have become essential, effectively combining academic knowledge with practical experience.
Innovative programs like Managed Training Services (MTS) provide a valuable alternative to traditional induction methods, significantly improving job readiness through intensive, industry-focused training. "By equipping engineers with both technical skills and essential 21st-century competencies, our MTS programs ensure a smooth transition into the workforce," Ramesh noted. He stressed the need for stronger collaborations between academia and industry, and for curricula to continuously adapt to global market demands to boost the employability and industry-readiness of engineering graduates.
Dhriti Prasanna Mahanta, Vice President and Chief Business Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need to enhance the employability of today's youth. “With the rising demand for skilled engineers, particularly in the electronics and electrical engineering sectors, it's crucial that our workforce is not only academically proficient but also possesses practical, on-the-job skills that employers seek. Apprenticeships play a key role in this by offering structured, hands-on training that complements formal education, ensuring that young professionals are job-ready from the start."
"Real-world experience and mentorship through apprenticeships enable them to develop the critical skills needed to meet industry demands. This approach not only addresses the immediate need for engineers but also supports long-term sectoral growth and innovation. Investing in the employability of youth is vital for creating a sustainable talent pipeline for the future,” Mahanta said.
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