Globalization has opened doors for emerging markets like India to actually Emerge as powerhouses in several areas. We are today the global hub for offering high end service requirements of global giants and have excelled in addressing them with our talent prowess. The success of an emerging economy is, however, very strongly related to the availability of skilled workforce.  As a nation, today, we boast of having our young population as our innate strength. But it is very essential that the potential of this young workforce be harnessed.

The informal or blue collar segment accounts to almost 85% of the working population in India. Appropriate skilling and training of this workforce is very important to be able to make this informal sector productive by harnessing its true potential. And it is crucial that this skill training and education being offered is in sync with the requirements of the labor market. After all, development of the economy is largely associated with increasing employability and gainful employment of the skilled workforce!  

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) was set up by the Government of India as the umbrella body to aid in the entire process of skill enhancement, training and develop appropriate models of enhancing vocational training initiatives in the country. NSDC has facilitated the setting up of several training bodies across gamut of sectors including IT, Electronics, Retail, Telecom, Agriculture, Plumbing to name a few. However, skilling alone is not the solution. In order to accommodate appropriate labor market linkages, it is imperative that the skills being imparted or trained upon be measured reliably and be Industry Certified!

Certification is key for establishing appropriate labor market linkages and ascertaining that the workforce is industry ready. It has today found its place in almost every industry for one big reason- it helps in advancing the profession. Certification is a way of helping the industry (employers) evaluate their workforce, analyze and adjudge their skills and hence recruit the right talent. On the other hand, skill certification is very critical for workers as well. Being certified for a particular skill or role acts as a seal for a worker’s employability in that sector and role. It is a testament of competency, commitment towards one’s profession and is indeed a key differentiator from the rest. It is a very important step towards building respect and interest of workers in the informal or vocational sector. Skill certification also paves way for differential waging which further recognizes and rewards more skilled workforce, thus acting as motivator for others.

A country’s people are its greatest asset. It is important that this asset be harnessed and helped to evolve and become industry ready workforce. It is a win-win for industry and workforce. Industrial growth happens when its labor is skilled and equipped to make it grow. Recognition of skilled labor as being the right fit for a job brings respect to the profession and increases motivation and urge in the workforce to perform better and deliver the best. And this amalgamation overall leads to growth of the economy and the nation.