Tackling India’s Job–Skills Mismatch: Strategies for Sustainable Employment

The employment landscape in India is grappling with the challenge of a job-skill mismatch or an education-occupation mismatch, often manifested through unemployment and underemployment. This issue is particularly pronounced among the youth and within rural informal sectors. It is, therefore, essential for the government to recognise this ongoing challenge and implement targeted policy reforms that bridge the gap between industry and academia, thereby fostering stable and relevant employment opportunities for India’s workforce.

The Prevalence of Job-Skills Mismatch in India

The “Skills for the Future” report by the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) for 2023–24 reveals that about 88% of India’s workforce is engaged in low-competency occupations that do not align with their skills, while only around 12% are employed in high-competency, relevant roles. These insights highlight the persistent issue of underemployment in India, often resulting in the underutilisation of skills, low wages compared to industry standards, limited career growth, and reduced productivity at work.

For job seekers, this means that even higher education does not guarantee a relevant job, requiring proactive upskilling or practical training. For employers, it highlights the challenge of finding the right talent despite a large applicant pool.

Youth Unemployment / Underemployment

The overall youth unemployment rate in India was recorded at 14.6% in the first quarter of FY26 (April–June), according to the PLFS report 2025. Furthermore, about 65.7% of unemployed youth are educated—having completed secondary education or higher—according to the India Employment Report 2024, a trend referred to as “educated unemployment.” Only around 15% of youth trained under the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) have secured employment. Additionally, just 8.25% of graduates are employed in jobs relevant to their educational qualifications, while over 50% are engaged in unrelated roles such as clerks and machine operators.

Many engineering and commerce graduates, particularly in tier-2 cities like Coimbatore or Nagpur, report working in unrelated roles due to a lack of internship experience or industry exposure, making underemployment a lived reality for the educated youth. These trends highlight the growing challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment in India, primarily driven by education-job mismatches (overqualification or unrelated qualifications) and skill gaps resulting from ineffective training programs.

Underemployment in Rural Informal Sectors

Underemployment remains widespread in rural informal sectors, particularly in agriculture. Workers in these areas often engage in tasks that provide limited skill development or career growth. The lack of formalisation in rural employment forces many to take up jobs solely for survival—a condition often described as “survival employment.”

For rural youth, this means limited career pathways, minimal exposure to modern technologies, and a higher likelihood of seasonal or insecure work. Employers often find a shortage of trained rural talent for sectors like renewable energy, sericulture, and agro-processing.

Recommendations for Government Policymakers

Revitalise Education and Skill Development Curricula

Forecast sector and region-wise skill requirements through a systematic mechanism. This helps upgrade the school, vocational, and higher education curricula to equip the workforce with the evolving demands of the industry. Introduce practical training, digital literacy, and soft skills modules to ensure graduates are employable in relevant, high-competency roles, thereby reducing underemployment. For instance, Siemens’ dual education model in Pune combines vocational training with hands-on factory experience, producing job-ready candidates and increasing retention.

Scale Apprenticeships and On-the-Job Training Programs

Strengthen Industry–Academia collaboration by expanding apprenticeships and internship programs. These initiatives provide real-time exposure, help students and youth understand their career goals, develop relevant skills, and bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, leading to sustainable employment opportunities. Tata Steel and Maruti Suzuki’s apprenticeship pipelines help the companies reduce hiring costs and improve employee retention by nearly 20%.

Formalise Employment in Rural Areas

Promote profitable rural enterprises such as livestock farming, aquaculture, beekeeping and honey production, sericulture, and renewable energy units. Invest in upskilling rural talent across these sectors and provide social security benefits. These measures help rural youth identify suitable career paths, secure relevant jobs with long-term growth potential, and reduce the possibility of moving towards survival employment. Programs such as Tamil Nadu’s Naan Mudhalvan program integrates academic learning with industry-based training, improving job placement rates among youth.

Digital Pathways to Bridging Skill Gaps

The rise of online learning platforms and micro-credential programs enables job seekers to gain in-demand skills in AI, data analytics, and digital marketing. For example, NSDC’s Skill India Digital Hub and Coursera offer short-term certifications that can directly improve employability. Employers can also use these platforms to upskill their workforce quickly, reducing hiring gaps.

Addressing India’s job–skills mismatch is crucial to harnessing the country’s demographic dividend and ensuring inclusive economic growth. The article highlights that youth and rural workers are particularly affected, facing underemployment and low skill utilisation due to education-job mismatches and insufficient training. Targeted policy reforms, including curriculum revamps, expanded apprenticeships, and the formalisation of rural enterprises, can bridge the gap between industry and academia. 

A Collaborative Roadmap Forward can guide stakeholders in achieving this goal:

• For Employers: Partner with universities and offer skill-based bootcamps, internships, and apprenticeships to create a talent pipeline aligned with company needs.

• For Job Seekers: Pursue micro-credentials, digital learning, and internships to acquire skills in high-demand sectors and improve employability.

• For Government/Education Institutions: Establish a national job–skills observatory to continuously align curricula with market trends and sectoral skill demands.

By investing in skill development, practical industry exposure, success-driven apprenticeship models, and sustainable rural employment, the government, employers, and job seekers can collectively enhance workforce productivity, reduce underemployment, and create stable, relevant, and future-ready employment opportunities across India.

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