Word Economic Forum: Huge employment opportunities in India

DAVOS: Showcasing the potential of India at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, leading industry stalwarts stressed on the huge employment opportunities available in India due to the potential of a young workforce. Around 65 percent of India’s population is below the age of 35. With a new WEF study warning about a net loss of over five million jobs in next five years due to the fourth industrial revolution, Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said there are huge employment opportunities in India but there is a need to impart right skills and training.

The WEF study titled ‘The Future of Jobs’, focused on 15 leading developed and emerging economies including India, said the employment outlook is net positive in only five of these countries. Speaking at a session on ‘The Promise of Progress’ on the job market impact of the fourth industrial revolution, the CEO of the IT giant Infosys, Mr Sikka said there would certainly be disruptions but the new technology would not necessarily create imbalances. He said if the right kind of education, connectivity and training is provided to the people, the imbalances could be reduced.

“There was a big startup event this weekend and it showed there are huge opportunities available in India. Do we prepare people for where the world is going to be? We need to impart skills. There has to be disruptions. It should be about what the world is going to be and not what the world used to be,” Mr Sikka added.

Sectors with potential

The improved job market has renewed optimism particularly in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector. According to a report by leading online job portal monster.com, in September 2015, online recruitment in the sector was 85 percent higher than a year-ago and the pace of growth y-o-y has been improving consistently.

With the government pushing for ‘Make in India’ and the plan to create 100 smart cities, it is expected to increase hiring in manufacturing and commerce as well as in the infrastructure sector.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Dismissing suggestions that the new technology and connectivity would create imbalances, Mr Sikka said, “If we take a longer and deeper view, the more people have access to jobs, there is more likelihood that the imbalances will go away. Stressing on connectivity being viewed as a human right, he said, “if we equip people in the right way, there is no need to worry”.

“I am convinced the longer term solution in education, connectivity and creating right skills. What we need to do is promote entrepreneurship and put in place right kind of policies,” Mr Sikka added.

Discussions on the Fourth Industrial Revolution would focus on the ongoing transformation of society and economy through cutting-edge technology and innovations. It would focus on the progress made in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology and other areas of science.

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