THE CORPORATE SKILLS EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR: ARE WE READY?

By 2025, the World Economic Forum predicts that 97 million new jobs will be created worldwide, largely driven by advancements in AI, IoT, and robotics. While this sounds promising, there is a significant gap as many of these jobs might remain unfilled because of a growing skills gap.

- SUMIT SHUKLA

A recent report from TeamLease Digital shows that AI adoption in India is already at 48% across key industries, with banking and financial services leading at 68% and technology at 60-65%. However, even as these technologies become more integrated into business, there simply are not enough skilled professionals to fill the roles they create.

Take India's engineering graduates, for example. Although more than 60% are considered employable, only 45% actually meet the standards that companies are looking for. Even more concerning is the fact that out of the 1.5 million engineers expected to graduate this year, only about 10% are likely to land jobs, as per a recent report by TeamLease. This issue is not just about technical skills; it also includes crucial soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, which traditional education often overlooks.

So, are today's graduates and young professionals really prepared for the current demands of sectors like technology, finance, and manufacturing? As these fields increasingly rely on AI, data analytics, and automation, the gap between what employers need and what candidates offer is becoming more perceptible.

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