Is it time to put skills above degrees for career growth?
With over 65% of its population under the age of 35, India has one of the world's youngest workforces. This demographic advantage offers great potential but only if it is matched with the right skills to navigate a digital-first, rapidly evolving economy. To stay competitive, organisations must invest in dynamic learning infrastructures-such as internal academies and modular, on-demand programs-that support continuous employee development.The shift from one-time training to ongoing learning enables talent to evolve in line with business needs. Beyond AI and digital fluency, there's a growing demand for soft skills like adaptability, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, which are key to fostering innovation and operational efficiency. Technology = Learning AcceleratorTechnology is a powerful enabler of continuous learning with advanced tools increasingly taking on complex functions like research, coding, and content creation. This shift allows employees to focus on higher-order thinking, strategic problem-solving, and upskilling. Simultaneously, AI-driven platforms are personalising and streamlining learning experiences. Recognising this, many organisations are ramping up investment in upskilling and reskilling. In India, 58.5% of companies have allocated a portion of their Learning & Development budget to upskilling initiatives in FY25, according to Great Learning's Workforce Skills Evolution Report.India's aspiration to become a global AI leader adds urgency. With a projected demand for 2.3 million AI jobs by 2027 and a supply forecast of just 1.2 million professionals, the talent gap is widening. To bridge this gap, organisations must embed learning into everyday work by integrating continuous, role-specific upskilling into daily workflows. With AI-related job postings in India growing at 21% annually and a projected shortfall of over 1 million skilled professionals by 2027, traditional training models are no longer sufficient. MICRO-CREDENTIALS AND TALENT PARTNERSHIPSOne of the most promising developments in modern workforce learning is the rise of micro-credentials. According to a Coursera study, 95% of employers indicate they are more likely to hire a candidate with GenAI micro-credential, and 9 out of 10 indicate that such hires exhibit more effective on-the-job performance and faster productivity gains. advertisementMicro credentials are essentially brief, targeted, and applied learning modules created to develop job-specific competencies at a quick pace. Whether it's learning a new coding language, applying design thinking, or becoming more effective as a leader, these stackable programmes are beneficial for both graduates and experienced professionals. While many of these models are self-paced, offering learners the flexibility to build expertise on their own time, others are instructor-led, providing structured guidance, encouraging greater independence, adaptability, and consistent progress.Preparing India's workforce for the future demands building collaborative ecosystems. Strategic alliances between industry, academia, and government will be critical to providing scalable, sector-specific skilling programs that have a meaningful impact.However, organisations have to move beyond transactional outsourcing and re-imagine talent partnerships as sustained investments in skill development. The future is in disciplined partnerships that combine coaching, ongoing upskilling, and open career paths, building a workforce that is not only skilled but also motivated and future focused. - EndsMust Watch
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