The Urgent Need for a National Skill Census

India's demographic transition will see it emerge as the most populous nation in the working age group by 2030.

- RITWIK MEHTA

However, while the overall unemployment rate is only 4.1 percent, youth unemployment remains a serious issue at above 12 percent. The situation is further enervated by the low share of 4.7 percent of the total workforce having been trained. A National Skill Census might help fill this gap.

While caste-based census issues have taken most of the political discourse, Karnataka 2023, along with Haryana and Maharashtra 2024, have found their voters focusing more on jobs, development and safety. The MSME is rising to challenges with schemes like 'Approaches for MSME Development 2024' and a new executive development programme aimed at reducing the skill gap. The India Skills Report 2024 emphasises how skill will determine global competitiveness and inclusive growth, especially with AI steering the future of work in the MSME sector.

As of 2020, the Uttar Pradesh government mapped skills within the migrant worker population of about 2.35 million, identifying a skills matrix to facilitate fit job placements for those returning home. The survey incorporated the mapping of 94 categories of labourers to match workers with MSME organisations. In such amicable terms with major industry bodies like the Indian Industry Association and the Confederation of Indian Industry, jobs were promised for about 11.5 lakh workers, with 2.5 lakh by the real estate sector and 7 lakh provided by other sectors.