It’s time for South Asian countries to pull up their socks or their youth could be ill-prepared for the job market of the future

Priyanka Gupta

South Asia has the largest youth labour force with nearly 100,000 young people entering the labour market every day. Research from UNICEF states that more than half of South Asian youth are not on track to have the education and skills that are necessary for employment in 2030.

This implies that more than 50 per cent of South Asian youth leave school unprepared to get a decent job. According to the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education), the Education Commission and UNICEF, South Asia lags behind several other regions in preparing the next generation of young people with the skills they will need for 21st century work.

“South Asia is at a critical juncture, with a limited window during which it can reap significant demographic dividends from its talented and capable youth. Get it right, and millions could be lifted out of poverty. Fail to do so, and economic growth will falter, youth despair will rise, and further talent will be lost to other regions.” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.

South Asia, with half of its population of 1.8 billion below the age of 24, has the largest youth labour force in the world until 2040. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh largely account for this number. This also means that the region has the potential to drive vibrant and productive economies. If strong investments in skill development are made, the region is poised to maintain robust economic growth. If ignored, these regions could be losing the potential growth that would have been possible with the
labour generated. Due to the availability of opportunities in other developed regions, South Asia would end up losing the bright minds to those regions. This in turn will have a direct impact on the economy and the position of the nation on a global index.

A UNICEF survey ‘Voices of Youth’ was conducted among 32,000 young people in South Asia. It reveals concerns among these under- 24-year-olds about how well they are being prepared for the modern economy. According to the poll, many young people in South Asia feel their education systems are outdated and do not prepare them for employment. They cite lack of work experience (26%), inadequate support services to improve employability (23% received no support and most received limited and not comprehensive support), and bribery demands/discriminatory and unfair hiring practices (44%) as key barriers to finding employment even after they have graduated.

Another report by UNICEF identified major hindrances to addressing the youth skills gap in the region. These include the low quality of education and sub-standard vocational training among others. Compiled by Ernst & Young India, this report identifies a total of 30 already- in-operation solutions to the youth skills crisis.

The picture that emerges is one of a vicious circle of outdated education systems, lack of skill development and vocational training, lack of opportunities, a weak support system, unemployment and poverty. The problem at the core can be fixed by bridging the quality education and skill development gap. The authorities need to prioritise education demands that meet the expectations of the future employment. There are long-standing issues that need the efforts of hands-on experience and training for the youth to make them job-ready. The education system also needs to address the practice of hands-on learning from the beginning along with soft skills training. These solutions would be fruitful if we see a dedicated partnership between the private and public sector as well as the youth themselves.

The report cited additional barriers, including a lack of or limited support for self-employment and entrepreneurship, especially for youth who have problems obtaining loans, registering businesses or obtaining soft skills that can help them succeed. The education and skills training systems and the labour market are particularly biased against young women due to factors such as marriage expectations, safety concerns and gender stereotypes. Youth with disabilities are one of the most marginalised and excluded groups in South Asia when it comes to obtaining education and employment. A lack of motivation and participation by local youth in certain sectors and job categories lead to increased demand for migrant workers. Construction and manual labour jobs are instances where a change in perception of the value of these jobs is needed as much or more than skilling initiatives.

The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises holistic multidisciplinary education. It aims to create a self-reliant nation through education. The pandemic has brought home how crucial it is to adapt to the technical ways of teaching and studying. The NEP has policies on digitalised classroom and pedagogy as well as teachers’ professional development and training to stay abreast of the fast-changing global environment. It also focuses on internalisation of higher education systems which
will create many new opportunities for the youth and take the education system several notches higher.