By Partha Pratim Mazumder
A learning crisis in India seems imminent even as educational reforms surge ahead. Provision of schools does not guarantee the availability of necessary facilities in schools. The gap is still wide when compared to the enrolment of children in the school and learning outcomes. The job situation in India does not reflect a crisis, but it is a matter of serious concern. A crisis is understood as an emergency that demands immediate attention, without which we will see a calamity of sorts. There is no immediate calamity of any kind on hand. But there is a deeply insidious problem at work in the form of shrinking employment opportunities, shrinking formal jobs, and a shrinking labour force. A populous and demographically young country like India has a lot to gain if the expanding working-age population can join the labour force and be provided with gainful employment. More hands at work can ensure greater prosperity and relatively evenly spread growth.
One of the biggest issues India is facing is Unemployment. In fact most people voted for Mr. Modi on that account. There is this strange expectation and perception that Mr. Modi will waive the problem away with a magic wand. To those hoping for a miracle, please stop day dreaming. Most people lay the blame at the door of our faulty education policy. Well, faulty no doubt it is but to say the entire problem of unemployment is because of the education policy seems a tad exaggerated.
Yes, several educated youth, especially professionally qualified ones are sitting idle or involved in some entrepreneurial activities. Of the large section of people who are unable to find work are engineers. Now, are they unemployed in the truest sense? Unemployment is basically when a person willing and capable to work does not find a job at the going wage rate. And it is the last phrase, which is the root cause. “At the going wage rate,” or the prevailing one in essence it means, you are this engineer strutting around with a good performance and a degree, you apply through job portals and meet recruiters and you get job offers but at what salary? Rs 30,000 a month! Sorry, you say. No way will I work for that measly amount. I would rather sit at home. And those angry words become your reality. You sit at home and let jobs pass you by because sorry, they are not worth your caliber. And you are not technically unemployed. You are voluntarily unemployed.
That is where one aspect of the issue lies. As we acquire higher education, we obviously seek what are called, “white collar jobs” implying those people who work within the confines of an office. The other type relegated to the shunned category as it is associated with those who are uneducated include construction workers, factory workers and so on. Now, after our qualifications, it is a no brainer to know that we shall not touch that area. It is not what you had studied for. Fair enough!
Now, let’s look at this third category of our populace. The plumbers, electricians, salon owners, tailors, contractors, cab (read uber or ola) drivers etc. They are self employed and work whenever and wherever they want. The demand for their services arises from time to time in every household. In fact that engineer son of yours sitting idle at home chases the plumber around when suddenly the water supply stops. When your electricity conks out, whom do you call? The rather elusive electrician? Such people are working at their own pace, earn what they demand and lead a life which meets their requirements. They send their kids to school too. I am not saying they enjoy a plush life. But, considering they earn pretty well in a day, with no boss to answer to and no appraisals, tension of a raise, meeting deadlines and with so many metros and residential complexes, they are never short of work either.
But would you, a bright engineer with a degree, capable as you may be, do such jobs? Will you become an Uber driver? Or an electrician? I would not expect you to say yes. You will not touch such work even with a barge pole. In fact, I expect you to question me and ask me if I am fine. And here is where we as a society have gone awry. We educate our kids to vie for degrees. We want them to be a CEO by 40.We live to see them sitting in a plush office, with power, a handsome salary, paid vacations and the works. Ever thought about the demand- supply ratio for such jobs? No, why should we. Our kid is a bright graduate software engineer. How can the supply of jobs run out for him? The bitter and unpalatable truth is that it does dry up. Then what?
Nowhere do we even consider that perhaps a skill will be a better acquisition. We are educated folks. Why would we have such a preposterous thought? Honestly, I would shudder at the thought of my son becoming a carpenter. He may make lots of money but he WILL HAVE NO SOCIAL PRESTIGE. And that my dear folks is the core issue. We are good at aping the West. Quite the experts at that! Then why can’t we see that a plumber and a banker being treated with equal respect? No child hesitates in saying that my dad is a carpenter. The entire thrust on degrees in our country is what has let us down. Our problem is society’s perception and expectation.
Skill education was the agenda in this government’s last term too. But who and in how much time will we realise that no profession is demeaning? Acquiring a qualification, sitting jobless and becoming depressed is a natural outcome. If only we learn to treat our helpers, who come to us with their tools in our dire need, with equal respect and honour, maybe decades later we will see some change. Yes, one change is there as more kids are turning to self owned ventures. But not many parents are supportive of that either. We are a generation moulded in a step by step acquisition of degrees and certificates. We do not pause to think, how will it help in the long run?
Till then I will file my prestigious degrees in a file, rarely opened, while you could get them framed? The choice is yours, caught as we both are in a quagmire. Both under-employment and this form of discouragement are a significant loss of productive potential. This is particularly troubling when it pertains to India’s large and growing youth population. Pathways to productive and high-quality employment are essential to deliver better living standards to citizens, but also for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
So, how can we address the problem? Addressing the underemployment crisis entails a three-pronged strategy. First, we must improve the quality of jobs by improving productivity in agriculture and in enterprises. Second, we must align education, technical and vocational education and training to market demand. Third, we must make enduring and long-term investments in human capital through good-quality education, skills, and on-the-job training, as well as in basic social protection.
Recent data suggests that there is rising unemployment. To be sure, this is a problem. But perhaps the larger and arguably more pressing challenge is under-employment.