Unemployment is one of the biggest concerns of Indians as there are many youngsters who are not able to find suitable jobs as per their qualifications. Though the government of India and various state governments are working hard to create job opportunities, still it’s a common notion that there are not enough jobs in the country.
However, a tweet by the Harsh Goenka, the chairman of RPG Enterprises, has left many thinking whether there is scarcity of jobs or scarcity of candidates with skills. Harsh Goenka posted that his company is not able to find enough construction workers, truck drivers and plantation workers and people keep complaining about unemployment in the country.
Here is what Harsh Goenka’s tweet read, “People in our country complain of unemployment. My own problem is to find skilled people in our business. We want construction workers- we can’t find enough! We want truck drivers- huge shortage! We want plantation workers- they are not available! Can’t understand solution. Do we need to mechanize more to reduce need of people? Do people not want to work and live on doles? Do we need to do more towards skill development? Do we need a digital platform that matches employees and employers effectively?”
People in our country complain of unemployment. My own problem is to find skilled people in our business. We want construction workers- we can’t find enough! We want truck drivers- huge shortage! We want plantation workers- they are not available!
Can’t understand solution.
Do we…— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) August 22, 2023
Soon Indian online users started reacting to this issue with the majority citing that Indian middle class doesn’t want their kids to get employed in blue collar jobs, they just want white collar jobs despite the fact that blue collar jobs are also well-paid. One online user states that skill training centers are not able to find students because of this attitude of middle class people and one online user suggests Harsh Goenka to start a skill center and get people trained as per their requirement and then absorb them in his company.
Here are some selected reactions:
Sir,as a business house,u know ur requirements and skill set. U should set up ur own Skill centers or tie up with existing centers for your specific requirements. U can give a joint certification and absorb them. U can offer them free skill training and deduct from their salary.
— kamal kumar 🇮🇳 (@kamalkumarBJD) August 22, 2023
Root cause:
Lack of Respect – truck drivers, carpenters, masons, all are looked down upon by the middle class and hence we dont want our kids to become one.
Informal job contracts – They dont get jobs but gigs. Try hiring truck drivers like you hire sales people and see if you…— Ankur Agrawal (@ankur_lhr) August 22, 2023
Same holds good in our professional field also. The dedication, skills & commitment is comparatively lower in present times than the times when we qualified…
— Mayank Mohanka (@MohankaMayank) August 23, 2023
There is nothing one can do to fix people who do not want to work.
We just need to focus on automation and skill training.
— Vinod Kankaria (@Vinodkankaria76) August 22, 2023
The most effective to meet and Match demand would be for the industries to come together and start Skills Development Centres across the country that adopts or works with Colleges and polytechnics to teach, train and develop skills that are required by the Industry & take them in
— Ramesh K Iyer (@rameshkiyer) August 22, 2023
So so true. ‘Lack of skill development’ is one of the top national issues.
Guy who comes to repair HP printer has no clue how to connect it with Wi-Fi and desktop. Guy who came to fix Tatasky connection has no clue of fixing wires that connects antenna. The Kent RO guy can…— Sheela Bhatt शीला भट्ट (@sheela2010) August 22, 2023
Bitter truth is Skill Training Centres hardly find students. Our youth want only white collar jobs, no blue collar jobs even if they pay well. Advert for peon or clerk you will get 1000s of applicants
— Ratan Sharda 🇮🇳 रतन शारदा (@RatanSharda55) August 22, 2023
Do you agree with Harsh Goenka or do you feel otherwise?