Indian millennials optimistic about future job opportunities: Telenor survey

 

Millennials in India remain optimistic about future job opportunities at a time when robots, automation and artificial intelligence are expected to cut jobs significantly over next five years, said a new survey by Telenor.

They survey was conducted across six countries including India,Pakistan, Mynmar, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Singapore and entailed 4,200 respondents between age group of 15-25 years. 

Of the young adults surveyed in India, 66% surveyed said they were 'excited' about future opportunities in the internet and digital sectors,with more than half of them saying they were 'extremely excited'. 

Meanwhile, 57% Indian youth said that mobile, internet technology will be important in their career by 2020, in line with the average of 63% of youth aggregated in all six nations. Only 3 percent said that technology is 'not really important' for their future. 

While all of the Indian youth surveyed agreed that robots will replace humans in many future professions, 22% of them said that the proliferation of robots will not affect them much and 9% said they would want to be the ones to design these robots.

On which jobs robots would most likely replace humans in, 38% of Indian respondents predicted that the manufacturing and engineering industries would see the most machine takeovers. India youngsters also said that non-technical skills will also be important in the future. Of all the countries survey, India has the highest number of respondents, 36%, said the most significant skills for a great future job will be the 'ability to inspire others, and leadership capability.

Meanwhile, Indian millennials rated data analysis, research and interpretation as the least important future job skills.India's millennials also appeared enthusiastic for a technology-driven future, the survey found. "Youth in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar all agreed with the statement: 'It's important to understand all kinds of technology - I want to know as much as I can !,' with Myanmar topping the scale at 34% of respondents,and India at 32%," said the survey report. 

"Singapore and Malaysia admire the human aspects of technology; with 31% of Singaporeans and 28% of Malaysians saying that the best thing about the internet is that it connects us to all kinds of people and ideas."

Yasu Sato, Head of Digital Capabilities, People Development, Telenor Group, said: "It's fascinating to see that young adults not only revere technology and the opportunities it presents them, but also see themselves as'compassionate', and 'highly creative'. The fact they are aligned in not only believing that technology and the internet are crucial for their careers, but that they are excited about this, is very motivating to us."