The 15th FICCI Global Skills Summit spread over two days kickstarted in New Delhi on Sep 25 with papers and experts calling for more engagement of youth with skilling. On occasion, the FICCI – EY Report “Future of Jobs in India 3.0” was unveiled.
The publication reveals significant changes in the country’s employment landscape, with AI adoption, sustainability, and cross-cultural competency emerging as key drivers shaping the future of employment. The study, which engaged over 200 industry leaders, experts, and policymakers, highlights the profound impact of technological advancements and environmental concerns on job roles and skill requirements across five key sectors: Manufacturing, FMCG, Healthcare, Energy, and Infrastructure.
The report underscores the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in job creation whilst acknowledging challenges in workforce readiness and adoption. It emphasises the need for robust collaboration between industry and academia to enhance curricula and provide practical learning opportunities. Sustainability also emerges as a top priority, with growing interest in green jobs among learners. The study also emphasises the importance of cross-cultural competency and global mobility in shaping future employment trends.
Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum, in his keynote during the inaugural session stressed the need for a competency-based approach to learning. Responding to the growing global trend of employers valuing skills over traditional qualifications, he urged industries to identify partner institutions for skill development, stating, “Each industry should identify some institutions where they will fit in, in order to provide those skill sets. Similarly, every institution should have MOUs with about five to six industries, if not more, and then continue that engagement.”
Prof. Sahasrabudhe advocated for greater use of local languages and mother tongues in education, particularly to engage students from rural and remote areas. He also called for a comprehensive overhaul of examination systems to bring in precedence for critical thinking and innovation in place of rote learning.
Amit Kalyani, Chair of FICCI’s HR & Skills Committee and Vice Chairman of Bharat Forge Limited, highlighted the transformative impact of technology on the global job landscape. “By 2030, more than 85 million jobs could be displaced by automation and AI, but close to 100 million new ones may emerge,” he stated, emphasising the opportunities this shift presents for India’s workforce, also underscoring the urgency of workforce reskilling.
Recognising the need for widespread upskilling, he noted that 75 per cent of India’s youth would benefit from reskilling to meet modern industry demands. A key focus of Mr Kalyani’s address was increasing workforce participation, particularly among women. With female participation at 24 per cent, compared to the global average of 47 per cent, he stressed the untapped potential.
