Article Title :
Employability of Youth in India: Why Skill Matters

Author Name :
Mukta Mani

Keyword :
Employability, Skill, Skill Gap, Knowledge economy

Publisher :
Politic India Publication

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Abstract :
Globalisation, the knowledge economy, and rapid technological changes are rewriting the economic chapters of countries across the globe. A nation that possesses a skilled and productive workforce will have a competitive edge over others. India has emerged as the fourth-largest economy (IMF, July 2025) and already benefits from a rich demographic dividend. However, a large working-age population becomes an asset only when it is employed optimally and productively. Several studies report that education and workforce development systems of the country have been struggling to prepare job-ready and world-ready youth. A wide gap exists between the skills required for the job market and the skills possessed by our graduates. Although the government is making constant efforts to prepare skilled manpower, there is still a dire need to rethink and redesign the higher education and skilling ecosystems to make youth and graduates of the nation employable. This article examines the concept of employability in the current context, the skills required to excel in the market, the persisting skill gap, and how that gap can be bridged.