While there is a potential of creating about 80 lakh new jobs in Andhra Pradesh in the next eight years, the state government will have to take several measures to enhance the competencies of the youth and train them in “soft skills” as well. 

According to a study released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Friday on the Mapping of Human Resources and Skills in Andhra Pradesh, by 2015 the state will have 7.5-8 million new jobs to offer in such sectors as IT and ITES, textiles, engineering, construction, pharma and biotech, tourism, health care and financial services sectors. Out of these, 4.5 million jobs would require skilled and highly skilled professionals. To create “employable” human resources, the study estimates that 3.2 million students would have to undergo training and vocational courses. The new employment opportunities in the state would not only call for enhanced functional and sector-specific competencies across levels, but also several “soft” skills to address deficiencies such as self esteem, ability to relate with co-workers and work as a team and time management skills.

The study reveals that over 40 per cent of engineering graduates and diploma holders passing out every year, remain unemployed even after two years of completion of studies. The primary reasons are disconnect between academic curricula and industry requirements resulting in deficiencies in specific functional skills besides lack of practical training, market orientation, “soft” skills and shortfall in appropriately trained faculty to impart these skills.

As for training the minimally educated but potential workforce, the study recommends that the government could conceptualise and roll out on a large-scale a skill-development initiative called Sustenance Training and Employability Program, covering around three lakh million people annually so that they can take up jobs in the organized sector.