Only two per cent of the workforce have opted for formal skill training making it one of the least preferred streams of education, according to a TeamLease study. Despite the government spending more than Rs 30,000 crores towards skill training, vocational skilling and education in India is still plagued by low esteem and demand supply mismatch. The report attributes the low penetration of vocational learning to the lack of appreciation for hands on training, limited upward mobility, weak labour market linkages and strong perception of labour as inferior which commands mere subsistent wages.
According to the report, apart from social standing, the current vocational education system has not been able to impress the employers either. Employers viewed vocational educated candidates to be marginally better than the untrained. In fact, most corporates were skeptical about the quality of training and hence provided the recruits with in-house training.
"The skill education system in India is in shambles. It is perceived as a low value qualification by both the society and the employer. It's course correction calls for a two pronged strategy. It necessitates building of institutions of better repute with better employer linkages", says Neeti Sharma, senior vice- president, TeamLease.
Another startling revelation of the report was the growing expectation mismatch between the candidates and the employer. While corporates are struggling to fill their blue collar/skilled profiles, talent regardless of gender aspires to secure an administrative job. Desk jobs are ranked right at the top by talent.
