World Youth Skills Day 2023: Empowering Youth for Success by Bridging the Skills Gap in Today’s Job Market

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, equipping youth with the right skills has become essential for their success and the growth of industries worldwide. As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, it is crucial to recognize the key technical skills that empower young individuals, the in-demand skills that drive our fast-paced world, and the importance of training programs in preparing them for the job market. However, we must also address the challenges and obstacles posed by the skills shortage within the industry.

CXOToday spoke to few industry leaders who shed light on the significance of empowering youth through skills development, highlighting the demand for specific competencies and the need for comprehensive training initiatives.

CrowdStrike

“World Youth Skills Day 2023 serves as a reminder to empower young individuals with the essential skills that drive success in today’s job market. As we navigate the fast-paced world, specific skills have emerged as highly sought after and in-demand. Critical technical skills, such as programming, application development, cloud security, and AI, have become crucial for equipping youth with the tools they need to excel in the technology and cybersecurity industry. Developing technical and functional skills requires a continuous learning mindset and continued investments. In addition to technical skills, soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and agility are equally relevant.

Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving industry that requires regular upskilling of professionals operating in this space through sophisticated training programs. Training programs are pivotal in equipping young people for the job market by offering targeted hands-on learning experiences. They bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, nurturing practical skills and empowering youth to enter the workforce with the confidence to succeed.

However, the industry faces persistent challenges related to skills shortages. Rapid advancements in technology and changing industry demands outpace the availability of skilled talent. Strengthening your existing team is essential in closing your organization’s skills gap. It can be an efficient and cost-effective way to shrink the skills gap while expanding the capabilities and expertise of your staff. Other methods of overcoming these obstacles require collaborative efforts from academia, businesses, and governments to establish comprehensive skill development initiatives, including certifications, apprenticeships, mentorship programs, and other continuous learning opportunities.”

-Jhilmil Kochar, Managing Director, CrowdStrike India

Equinix

“On World Youth Skill Day 2023, we are reminded of the pressing need to bridge the skill gap businesses face today. Rapid technological advancements and evolving market dynamics require agile and adaptable skill sets. To navigate these changes effectively, empowering young people with the necessary tools is essential.

At Equinix, we strive to foster a culture where employees can feel empowered and secure while advancing meaningful careers and doing their best work. Investing in talent is key to the continued growth of our company. Our focus on talent includes developing pathways to reach diverse communities, building robust platforms to connect and engage with new talent, and continually improving the employee experience while maintaining our culture and values.

We are dedicated to attracting, hiring and developing the best talent with an adaptable mindset to learn and unlearn as the technology and market dynamics change on a continuous basis. Equinix has a well-set program to provide the employees with the right knowledge and experience under appropriate mentorship so that we provide differentiated service for our customers to enable them to meet their challenges. We support a work culture to achieve our organizational goals and work to create a more accessible, equitable and sustainable future.

Furthermore, investing in today’s students is an investment in the workers of tomorrow, especially in a growing digital infrastructure industry where the availability of the right expertise is short of demand. As a tech business, we collaborate with higher learning institutions to ensure students acquire the skills required for immediate success upon graduation.

In India, we collaborated with diversity partners to reach more diverse candidates through diversity campaigns. We continuously focus on enhancing digital literacy and improving access for underprivileged children by distributing laptops to them. We also collaborated with a local NGO to provide digital infrastructure like Digital TV and Tablets to remote village schools so that they can use them for audio-visual training methodology using study material available on the internet or content provided by the government for the syllabus of the state board. This audio-visual method is not only more engaging for the students but also helps bridge the teaching quality gap. Equinix also provided mentorship to underprivileged women through NGOs. By collaborating with universities and partners, Equinix attracted 30 interns in 2023, and a talent community of over 4,500 members in India to date.

As the world’s digital infrastructure company operating more than 245 data centers across the world, we aim to nurture the next generation of skilled professionals and pave the way for a brighter future.”

– Manoj Paul, Managing Director, India, Equinix

Ascendion

“As businesses increasingly focus on creating digital products and platforms, there is a growing demand for professionals with expertise in skills like UI/UX, QA, cloud, and data analytics. These skills have become the cornerstone of innovation, thus driving businesses forward.

Furthermore, AI/ML has emerged as the hottest skill in the market. It is revolutionizing industries by enabling automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent decision-making. Mastering AI/ML opens up exciting opportunities for young individuals to contribute to groundbreaking advancements and drive impactful change.

Moreover, the rise of generative AI marks a new era in technology. In software engineering, generative AI will be seamlessly integrated into existing applications, software, and platforms. The demand for skilled professionals who possess a deep understanding of generative AI’s underlying principles, along with programming and machine learning expertise, will be substantial. We will also see the demand for new skills, such as prompt engineering, skyrocketing.

Over the next year, more and more businesses will prioritize the adoption of cloud, data, AI/ML technologies leading to higher demand for these skills than the current talent pool can fulfill. To bridge this skills gap, young professionals should proactively upskill themselves and seek mentorship from experienced experts in the field. Networking with professionals in the areas of AI, machine learning, data, and cloud computing will enable aspiring individuals to stay updated on new technologies and acquire the necessary skills to work effectively with the latest tools and technologies.

At Ascendion, we have implemented an innovative community of practice model called Circles. Circles provide our employees with invaluable guidance from industry experts who act as mentors. Additionally, our employees can learn from their peers, gaining insights into the latest technologies. By embracing collaborative learning, individuals can acquire the essential skills, resulting in a resilient and adaptable workforce.”

-Prakash Balasubramanian, Executive Vice President and Global Head, Engineering Practices and Delivery, Ascendion

Uplifters

“Nowadays, skills have become the currency of success, surpassing the sole reliance on degrees. I believe that employers seek adaptable, forward-thinking individuals equipped with practical competencies and a growth mindset. The value lies in acquiring relevant skills through vocational training, internships, and online courses, empowering young talents to bridge the skills gap and unlock countless opportunities. As the focus shifts from credentials on paper to capabilities in action, World Youth Skills Day reminds us that with the right skills, young individuals can shape their own destinies and thrive in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. The right skills and training are the only keys to success in this competitive world. ”

-Umang Sangal, Founder & CEO of Uplifters

Findability Sciences

“On this occasion, let us acknowledge and celebrate the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly in healthcare and education. By harnessing AI for good, we can strive towards a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future. We can help empower individuals become informed consumers, collaborators, and innovators in the realm of AI through education. At Findability Sciences, we nurture data science talent through mentorship and initiatives like our collaboration with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Tokyo University internships, and comprehensive AI training at GSM’s MIT Aurangabad & the Govt. College of Engineering Aurangabad. These programs provide practical training, exposure to cutting-edge technology, and hands-on experience, building a strong foundation for the future. We must also prioritize ethical AI use for the betterment of humanity.”

– Anand Mahurkar, Founder and CEO, Findability Sciences

1M1B (One Million for One Billion)

“On this World Youth Skills Day, let us celebrate (and promise to leverage) the power of future technologies, like AI, AR, and VR, in making education and skilling more immersive, human, and culturally centric. These technologies can enable our youth to have virtual workplaces and job experiences so that they can start developing real-world skills at an early age. Imagine students getting a virtual tour of a factory floor and learning how various departments function. Imagine learning critical skills for the manufacturing sector, like welding, painting, soldering, and firefighting, in the comfort of skill labs. Beyond skilling, as India becomes the skill capital of the world, it’s also important to impart values like ethics, integrity, a code of conduct, and even knowledge of Indian culture and heritage in our skilling programs. This is where immersive technologies can play an even bigger role. Virtual museums, virtual visits to monuments of national importance, and knowledge of India’s struggle for independence through immersive learning will play a big role in making our youth more human and culturally sensitive. After all, we also want our future workforce to be good ambassadors of India.”

– Manav Subodh- Managing Director of 1M1B (One Million for One Billion)

DPS North, Bengaluru

“I believe that we can give our students a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy, Socio-emotional learning, and ICT.

To do this, teachers must reskill themselves with emerging tech tools to teach how children learn. While teachers across the world demonstrated that they could embrace technology effectively during the pandemic, they will have to continuously Upskill and reskill to use technology to create inclusive classrooms where every child’s needs are met through personalized instruction. The urgent need to bring Universal Design for Learning into schools is also heightened by NEP 2020, which emphasizes personalized education. An organization like 1M1B is training and skilling our teachers and youth with the tools of technology and preparing them for the future of work.

For the digital native students, guidance and focus will be needed to steer them to use and skill themselves with tools for the future of work and use tech to build an equitable, inclusive, and just world. In my opinion, technology will enable both the teacher and the student to constantly re skill and upskill at their own pace.”

– Manju Balasubramanyam, Principal of DPS North, Bengaluru,

French Crown- Fast Fashion D2C company

“Every industry thrives on constant evolution. This is why we believe in empowering the next generation of talent, the youth as their fresh perspectives and digital fluency drive our brand forward. As we commemorate World Youth Skills Day, I am humbled and inspired by the incredible potential that lies within our young workforce. With 97% of our office staff and 50% of our factory staff below the age of 25, we have witnessed firsthand the remarkable energy and innovation they bring to the fast-paced world of fashion e-commerce. Furthermore, we are proud to see a significant rise in the number of young women joining our workforce, with 60% of our staff comprising talented and ambitious women. By leveraging the inherent strengths of our diverse team, we are redefining traditional gender roles in the workplace and breaking down barriers. On this special day, let us all enforce and enhance the skills and passion of the youth that will shape the future of each and every industry globally via innovation towards propelling a more dynamic marketplace for India.”

-Ilesh Ghevariya, CEO and Founder of French Crown

Bahwan CyberTek

“India recently overtook China as the most populous country and is home to perhaps the largest youth cohort in the world. Bolstered by deep internet and technology penetration, our youth population holds tremendous potential for economic development. Their ability to contribute is more pronounced in this digital age when Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become ubiquitous and is creating new business models, revenue opportunities, and reimagining job profiles. At the workplace, employees have embraced this AI opportunity and are upskilling and building competencies to keep up with the pace of AI development. According to NASSCOM, India ranks first in terms of AI skill penetration and talent concentration, which is a testament to the contribution that our youth can make to India’s economic development.

The theme for 2023 ‘Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future’ aptly recognizes the critical importance of upskilling, which has become a strategic priority for enterprises. At BCT, we have fostered a culture of continuous learning, providing our associates with comprehensive learning and development initiatives to help them stay current and seize all digital opportunities fully. A keen focus on nurturing talent will empower individuals and also contribute to the national agenda of economic progress.”
-Remadevi Thottathil, CHRO, Bahwan CyberTek

– Mr. Sarvesh Agrawal, CEO and Founder, Internshala

DocTutorials

Reskilling and upskilling have become mandates in the corporate world. The changing dynamics of the startup landscape, with the introduction of disruptive technologies like AI and ML, along with the ever-evolving digital marketing space and increased cyber threats, have compelled both large and small companies to seek professionals equipped with the necessary skills to overcome these challenges. This has led to a significant reorganisation in the HR sector worldwide, making reskilling imperative for the workforce. Once seen as luxuries or leisure pursuits, executive education and upskilling have now become almost prerequisites for securing employment. Additionally, this change has given teachers and trainers specialising in these abilities a significant opportunity to be acknowledged for their expertise, which was previously taken for granted. It is an incredibly exciting space, and the next five years will favour those who dedicate sufficient time to learning and successfully applying these skills.”

–Dr. Adit Desai, Co-founder, DocTutorials

 

The Lawrence School, Sanawar

The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2023 is Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future. Join the Community of Learners at The Lawrence School, Sanawar this World Youth Skills Day, as we unite with the global community to acknowledge the potential of young people to be catalysts for change and make a commitment to providing them with the skills and opportunities they need to build a prosperous and sustainable world for all. Together, we can shape a brighter future where no young person is left behind. Let us be the change.

–Mr. Himmat Singh Dhillon, Headmaster, The Lawrence School, Sanawar

Kognoz

On World Youth Skill Day, Kognoz celebrates our commitment to moulding the future of the youth. We stimulate dynamic capability development and enable the emergence of learning organisations through the lens of behavioural science and research-based work. At Kognoz, we realise that investing in young people’s skills and potential fuels progress and creativity. Let’s seize this moment to empower the youth, equipping them with the tools to thrive and create a world driven by passion, knowledge, and continuous growth. Together, let’s celebrate the youth as catalysts for positive change and create pathways for their success in an ever-evolving world”

– Lokesh Nigam, Co-founder and Director, Kognoz

Abhishek Misra, Head Human Resources, India at Rockwell Automation

‘’Technology has not only been an enabler but has become deeply intertwined with skilling & learning. Today’s youth is interested to have a very personalised learning experience – something customised to their needs, delivered at a time and through a medium of their choice. They also “unlearn and relearn” very quickly.

Hence emerging technologies are going to shape the learning and skilling of youths in a very big and disruptive way. Technologies like AI, ChatGPT, Advanced Robotics, Autonomous Vehicles, Internet of Things, Cloud, Advanced Materials, and many more are going to disrupt how work gets done in future.’’

Pradeep Narayanan, President, NIIT Digital and Growth Initiatives, NIIT Limited

“Skills are not mere stepping stones to personal career growth; they are the very bedrock upon which nations rise and prosper. On this World Youth Skills Day, we at NIIT Ltd, would like to celebrate the role of skills in shaping our collective future. We believe in equipping our youth with the right skills to empower them to realize their potential, break barriers, and drive innovation. It is through skills that we can bridge the gap between education and employability, enabling young minds to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Let us invest in our youth, nurture their talents, and build a skilled workforce that will shape the future of our nation.”

Abhishek Ajmera, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, UNIVO

The success of a nation rests in the hands of its youth, and India’s future shines bright with a staggering 65% of the population comprising young individuals.

UNIVO recognizes this potential and is dedicated to unlocking it through accessible and affordable online higher education. By offering a wide range of 60+ online degree programs from top-tier universities worldwide, UNIVO empowers the youth with sustainable learning outcomes and increased employability prospects.

The rising demand for online higher education, as highlighted by a KPMG report, signifies a promising shift towards a skilled and qualified workforce. With online higher education leading the charge, India is poised to become a global powerhouse and the skill capital of the world.

Ms. Rita Daniel, Manager, Learning & Development, Human Resources, MassMutual India

“Talent market is highly volatile and is constantly developing, responding to the market stimuli such as demand, new technology, infrastructure, societal and political changes etc. There are many barriers because of which there is gap between talent pool and market requirements. The major challenges or barriers to career development faced by the students are access to resources, lack of right skills, nature of work and infrastructure.

We can overcome these challenges together. Work in collaboration and in tandem to reduce the gap and providing the right platform and the skillset can help us overcome these challenges. To work collaboratively, we need to make changes in the policies to accept students from backgrounds as varied as marginalised communities. This requires shift in the mindset to create an accepting environment.

As a diverse workplace and equal employer, we encourage equal opportunities for all at all MassMutual India. Irrespective of who the individual is, based on the business needs we conduct training programs. Industry readiness learning programs are aimed to equip students from underprivileged backgrounds with required inter-personal, people skills and professional skills to be employable by corporates. These skills sets are specifically desired by the employers in their potential employees. We offer candidates the corporate experience by giving them the tour of the facility. Giving them a glimpse of the bigger picture/ experience of a corporate. Prepare them for future interviews. Guide them by providing inputs on how to showcase their skills, their education and their experience while presenting it to potential employers”.

Romita Mukherjee, Associate Vice President, Human Resources at Whatfix

“In the world of constant upskilling and a fast changing environment, how can one succeed with mere degrees/qualification  – sounds like a no brainer – right?

Companies that are highly successful have not achieved their success due to their exceptional business strategy or anything, but are successful because they had the right people to make that vision come true. Selecting the right talent is very tough as one cannot rely on just a degree that of course provides some level of foundation on technical and functional knowledge, it does not guarantee you with the application of learnt knowledge to action. Skills  are often crucial indicators of a candidate’s ability to perform the job effectively. It tells you whether the person is capable of applying knowledge to actions.

In the latest trends, across multiple Industries, employers are placing increasing emphasis on skills and competencies rather than relying solely on formal degrees – At Whatfix, we don’t ask for degrees at all as we don’t consider that being an indicator of competence, it can just give you level of confidence on the know-how of the area/stream. This shift is driven by the recognition that practical, job-specific skills are often more directly applicable to the role and can be acquired through alternative means such as certifications, vocational training, or hands-on experience and on-job training and shadow programs. Assessing a candidate’s skills can help determine their ability to solve problems, adapt to new challenges, and contribute effectively to the organization.

For example, in professions such as medicine, law, or engineering, obtaining the necessary degrees and certifications is often a prerequisite due to the complex and regulated nature of the work, however it does not necessarily mean that you have demonstrated ability to use those in action.

In summary, while degrees can be important in certain contexts, focusing on a candidate’s skills, relevant experience, and ability to perform the job effectively is crucial in identifying the right candidate. A combination of skills and qualifications is often the ideal scenario, but employers should consider the specific requirements of the role and industry when making hiring decisions.”

Jaspreet Bindra, Founder & MD of Tech Whisperer Ltd

“This World Youth Skills Day, it is a good time to think of the technology which could fundamentally shape jobs and work in the coming years – AI and Generative AI. Much like young workers learnt and absorbed fundamental new technologies like the PC, productivity software and email, the smartphone, and before that, even the calculator; the youth now will need to quickly learn and adapt to this powerful new technology: Generative AI.

Generative AI has the potential to enhance and replace millions of jobs, ranging across software, creative industries, legal, banking and finance, etc. and young people have to quickly adapt to and acquire new skills to work with Generative AI to enhance their jobs and life.”

Dr P Giridhar Kini.  Registrar, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal.

“In today’s ever-changing world, with rapid digitization reshaping the world of work, augmenting skill competencies of the youth and scaling employability has become even more critical. In India, close to 13 million youth join the workforce ever year, however a significant percentage of these are actually employable. This ascertains the wide growing skill gap that industries face. We understand the paramount importance of integrating skill development into our curriculum, equipping students with industry-oriented skills that prepare them to overcome real-world challenges. Our dedication aligns seamlessly with the country’s larger skilling agenda.

At Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), we have undertaken various skill focused initiatives to ensure that our students transcend knowledge acquisition, becoming innovators and catalysts for change. Through strategic collaborations with industry many leaders across key industries, we promote industry-focused learning and enable working professionals to upskill and attain higher qualifications. These partnerships drive research, internships, and workforce development, bridging the gap between academic learning and market requirements. Additionally, our industry centric programs exemplifies our commitment to embed hands-on learning. By providing platforms for students to lead initiatives, we are not only transforming their learning journey but also making a positive impact on communities and the macro economy. A classic example, amongst many others, is TechShila, a major tech-enabled project reflecting our students’ impactful contributions through experiential learning.

With all our efforts, we aim to continue amalgamating a future where education and skill-based learning converge, nurturing a generation of accomplished leaders.”

Alok Bansal, CEO, Global Business Process Management, Visionet Systems

“According to The World Economic Forum, rapid digital transformation has ensured that 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025. Apart from digital proficiency, employees of the future will also need critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They will need to cultivate a passion for active learning, and self-management abilities to face challenges with resilience and stress tolerance. Traditional skill sets and academic degrees are becoming increasingly obsolete as employability today hinges upon not just an understanding of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), etc., but also on organizational, and communication skills, leadership qualities, integrity, workplace ethics, dependability, flexibility and the ability to work with teams.

To truly harness India’s demographic dividend and pave the way for the nation’s development, it is essential to prioritize the skilling of young people. A collective focus on bridging these skill gaps, ensuring that the youth in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities have access to opportunities that will empower them and the nation as a whole.

Alok adds, “This is a tall order and a recent report by staffing firm TeamLease Digital informed that 30 percent of the 40,000 job postings available in India’s cyber security industry, remained vacant due to a shortage of skilled workers among other reasons. This is why we must commit to bridging such skill gaps, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This vast amount of unutilized raw potential must be tapped if we want to make the most of our demographic dividend. That is what our collective focus should be when we talk about how we can skill our young people and strategically leverage their capacities toward India’s development.”

Recognizing the transformative power of skill development, World Youth Skills Day serves as a poignant reminder to invest in our youth and equip them with the necessary tools to succeed in the ever-changing job market. By providing comprehensive training programs, educational initiatives, and mentorship opportunities, we can bridge the skill gaps and empower the next generation of workers to thrive in the digital era.