Investing in Vocational Training. Is It Necessary?

Vocational training is a practical program that prepares one for an occupation that requires a specialized skill, like that of a technician, artisan or tradesperson.

It focuses on developing technical skills for a specific job or trade. It offers you knowledge in methods contrasting to the conventional formal education system. Understanding different vocational training options can help you choose the right one for your career growth and development.

A change in employment trends

India is a democracy with the youngest and largest workforce, of which 81 per cent of youth are employed by the informal economy, and only a certain portion of this population can claim to earn a salaried income.

In such a scenario, the world of artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation is restricted to a niche corner, while the larger majority is employed by agriculture, construction, and service sector work.

Over the last few years, following the pandemic, youth in India have had to come to terms with their economic vulnerability, which may have been hitherto unexposed. Wages have reduced, vacancies come with health risks, benefits have disappeared, and many lost their employment.

The newly unemployed youth, who had previously migrated across the country for work, are now hesitant to accept new job offers and are fearful about returning to the cities which used to employ them a year ago.

While this fear may be temporary and most youth will be driven back to work out of a lack of choice, the labor demand side should be aware that these youth are worried about the volatility and vulnerability associated with their employment.

Now, this raises a pertinent question- How is the pandemic going to shape the future aspirations of young people in India?

Vocational training is important

In August 2020, India announced the National Education Policy (NEP), which has set the goal to make awareness about vocational skill training accessible to nearly 50 percent of learners across the country, by 2025.

In the past, vocational skilling was considered non-aspirational. However, the NEP acknowledged the issues around information asymmetry and dignity of labor. It then called for the integration of vocational education into the school system, through coordination with skill development organizations and employers. Surely, the pandemic has exacerbated the need for valuing skilled individuals in both rural and urban India.

One can undergo vocational training along with or outside the formal education system. It prepares them to take up a high-paying job or occupation almost immediately. Undergoing training from a vocational school earns you a certification from an independent organization, which vouches for your skills and puts you in an advantageous position over informally trained candidates.

Since its utility is direct and clear, students often participate more actively than formal education. It offers a learning opportunity to those who missed the formal education or those who are not sure whether they should attend a school.

Finally, it also offers an opportunity to learn the skills of your choice and make a career switch at almost any point in time.

Youth Job Readiness Programme

Understanding this, employers have restructured and transformed their employment space, and they no longer follow the traditional recruitment practices.

BharatCareer-Youth Job Readiness Program is a flagship initiative under BharatCares (by CSRBOX) that aims to serve as a pathway for the aspiring youth of our country to achieve a rewarding career and yield the youth with the real workplace skills that matter.

Between 2020-21, CSRBOX under one of its initiatives named Project Aalamban worked to connect blue-collar workers with recruiters and companies in India through a unified digital platform.

30,000 students enrolled themselves for this program and 10,000 were placed in companies across 12 states.

What is the program?

It is an intensive placement-linked program that prepares final year undergraduate and graduate students for jobs with life skills and entrepreneurship training. Aspiring youth undergo a 90 hours virtual training program taken by the domain experts followed by placement drives.

The program bridges the gaps that the workplace demands by imparting the learners the necessary skills. The trainers at these centers are working on creating an environment such that learners can identify the options available in the job space and can make a sure decision.

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