Skill Development for Vibrant Careers

Ranjan K Baruah
The current pandemic has hit the job sector directly around the world and more in developing Nations like India. Recent global data are alarming and challenging for young people as well as elders or people working with young people. Young people aged 15-24 have been even more severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis than adults. Globally, youth employment fell by 8.7 per cent in 2020, compared with 3.7 per cent for adults. Young women have been particularly hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to young men. We have to plan for the future with the help of skill development.
Youths are over-represented in the hardest-hit sectors of the economy and the ILO estimates that even young people who still have jobs have seen their working hours cut by nearly 25 per cent. Eradication of poverty means people must be engaged in income generating activities so that individuals can manage themselves and also manage others in their family. We are aware that low skills perpetuate poverty and inequality. When it is done rightly then skills development can reduce underemployment and increase productivity, and improve standards of living.
The global community has realized the importance of skill development for getting decent jobs and employment. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15th July as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD), to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. This shows the importance of skill development and it is time to explore and develop our skills for a sustainable future.
When we talk of skill development then we have to understand what it means. A skill is the capability to do something, in fact ability to do something effectively. We develop skills through experiences in life and work. We may learn skills by seeing others or reading from books but it is important to explore and make them our strengths if we want to be employed easily in any profession. Let us understand the skills which are important and needed. The list may be endless but we shall discuss a few skills in this edition. Skills can be simple, such as making a bed, or more complex such as playing a musical instrument. In the workplace you’ll use a combination of technical and personal skills. (To be contd)