India is recognized as a mystical land where culture, traditions and values exist in everything we do. A learning culture comes naturally to us and is the foundation on which we all build our lives.
So what is a learning culture? A learning culture creates an empowering environment that gives people access and tools to continual learning, whether to acquire brand-new skills or enhance their existing knowledge.
While we all agree and endorse the need for a learning culture, it is also very important to have the right kind of learning. Learning that uplifts enhances and provides growth opportunities to people. This also means that what we may have learned during our early days may not necessarily be applicable to the modern world and its changing times.
Enter Upskilling and Reskilling to Help Relearn
According to a job data analysis report by Monster, the job market in India is changing with the advent of new-age tech across sectors, 40 percent of Indian employees will need reskilling and 60 percent will need upskilling. The pandemic saw the rise of multiple technologies and work models that employees could choose from. These varied choices also highlighted the shortcomings in the learning and skills of employees, which needed to be addressed by the government, corporates, and educational institutions on a war footing.
Companies, business leaders, and employees increasingly realize the importance of upskilling from their current capabilities. A LinkedIn survey revealed that upskilling is a priority for 62 percent of CEOs who took part in the survey.
The report also listed the top industries where there was a significant emphasis on reskilling and upskilling- sectors such as education and training, BFSI, Technical Services and healthcare witnessed a surge in upskilling programs. New-age technologies like AI, Data Science, and Software Development were the domains that saw most professionals registering to improve and hone their skills.
Observations for 2023
Certain patterns and trends have emerged from several reskilling and upskilling initiatives.
Millennials are keener and more open to upskilling themselves. Today’s technology is advancing rapidly and we are privy to new technologies and innovations on a daily basis. With the pandemic pushing everything to the digital platform, the need to be tech-savvy is more remarkable than before.
India has a high percentage of millennials, who comprise over 34% of the country’s population. They are already proficient with mobile technology and hence are more adept at picking up technical skills. Moreover, the younger generations have clear goals and have already mapped their career to their liking. Hence they are more likely to seek tools that enhance their potential for their growth.
Employers will encourage their employees to upskill themselves and voluntarily offer unlimited opportunities for the same. The employer of today, especially post-pandemic, knows that in order to retain good talent and resources, they need to offer ample upskilling opportunities that focus on enabling employees to acquire new skills and progress faster up the career ladder.
These firms are providing the necessary education and training to employees, helping them understand the nuances of their respective fields and making them future-ready.
Remote Upskilling
With individuals working away from the office, the demand for remote learning has increased manifold. With nearly 100% digital penetration across the country, employers are ensuring that their workforce has an environment of continuous growth and learning, wherever they may be located.
Changing Times and Learning Culture
Now we can no longer rely on the formal traditional education format. Changing times and extreme situations like pandemics and wars have made us realize the need for additional educational formats and additional skill sets.
Upskilling and reskilling have become ubiquitous in today’s modern world. They have become indispensable tools for professionals to further their career growth. Governments and organizations have understood the significance of better-skilled employees.
Simply put, upskilling is a new motivation that enhances productivity, innovations and expertise.
Smile Foundation and Skilling The Youth
Smile Foundation is deeply invested in empowering the youth from lower-income households into strong individuals who become financially independent. This financial independence would ensure their fruitful contribution toward the growth and development of their families and the nation.
Our Livelihood programme, STeP (Smile Twin e-Learning Programme) connects the unemployed or underemployed youth from disadvantaged groups and communities with sectors like BFSI, Healthcare, Core Employability, Digital Marketing, Retail Management and more, which have large growth potential in terms of revenue generation and employability.
Smile Foundation’s Livelihood Programme Numbers: 75000 Youth Trained; 47000 Youth Placed; 400+ Employment Partners.