India's leading Ed-Tech firm Talentedge in association with Kantar TNS unveiled the results of their latest Young India study, which identified the emerging trends pertaining to 'career future' of Young India.
The findings of this study are relevant, since as per Thomson Reuters by 2020, India is forecasted to be the youngest country in the world, with a median age of 29, and by 2025 about 20 percent of the world's working-age population will live in India.
The Young India study was conducted across tier I and tier II towns including Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Lucknow, Indore and Visakhapatnam, with an aim to gaze into India's future and get a closer look at the aspirations and careers of the future workforce.
The study adopted a multi-pronged, modular approach to present a more holistic picture and the respondents included different youth cohorts including students, entrepreneurs, businessmen and early jobbers and students from Grade A and Grade B educational institutes.
It also includes insights from experts from different fields such as Sociology, Career Counseling, educational institutions and HR.
According to the 'Young India Study', unconventional and new career choices are here to stay. From a niche phenomenon, this trend is set to percolate down to the middle class. Experts see this as leading to more creativity and innovation, but also caution that it requires much more efforts and diligence.
Overall, given this trend, there are reports to suggest that there could be a rise in off-beat careers in the future such as spa management, pet-grooming, gemology, pottery, music appreciation etc. Institutes will need to provide these offbeat subjects that are beyond the conventional topics
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The study further reveals that for Young India, whilst brutal optimism is positive, there is also a need for the youth to equip themselves to be future ready. A basic conventional degree will remain to be essential. But, post that, they will need to enroll in courses to remain relevant, and be prepared to constantly up-scale their skills and adapt with changing times.
Young India believes that tomorrow is founded on shifting sands, its unpredictable, therefore it's difficult to formulate long-term career plans. Experts too believe that pace of change will make long term planning redundant and future success will be a factor of quick adaption. Young India believes future career growth will come mostly from hands-on experience backed by one-time conventional degree.
However, there is a nascent realization that acquiring add-on specialized certification will give one an edge. Experts are buoyant about this realization and believe that continuous learning and skill development will be a major factor for tomorrow's career successes.
"The future of Young India is unpredictable and so it is important for them to be more agile and flexible than ever before, and therefore must work on constant up-skilling and education. While long-term planning will be redundant, future success will be a factor of quick adaption. The fact that India ranks number one globally in terms of consumer confidence, acquiring add-on specialized certification will give professionals an edge to define their career successes," said CEO and MD Talentedge, Aditya Malik.
Analysis of data on online trends has shown that in recent times there has been a consistent increase in interest in online learning of 46 percent over the past three years. Certification courses have become more in vogue by about 68 percent.
Specific areas of interest amongst certification courses have been Analytics and Digital marketing, which have grown by 218 percent and 419 percent respectively. Employers will also have to come forward to impart relevant skillsets to their existing employees. This could be done by enrolling them in relevant courses either regular or online.
The study shows that the youth will have set expectations from their workplace. Many are already looking at entrepreneurship as the route to take, since it allows one to define their own work-life.
The experts feel that current frustration and exhaustion with corporate jobs is leading to more entrepreneurial mindset. The study also shows that youth is seeking more and more instant gratification early in the careers. This will make it difficult for employers to retain the employees.
Hence employers will have to constantly keep the young employees engaged and stimulated. Work-life balance, short-term goals, quicker success that makes them feel they are moving ahead, will be the pre-requisites for the youth at the work place.
"The rules of engagement are changing. If a company needs to keep young employees motivated, it must create a sense of growth by giving them short term goals and ensure a work-life balance. Personal goals today are as important as professional goals," said account director Kantar TNS India, Ritika Goswami.