In a country like India, where job security and stable income are considered paramount factors to choosing a career. India has the highest youth population amongst all other countries of the world. More than 50 percent of its population is below the age of 25. Government jobs are highly sought after by the Indian youth. However, this article hopes to shed light on why government jobs are no longer the long-term answer to the employment needs of India’s youth.
Every year the Government of India receives the highest number of job applications. The demand for jobs far exceeds the supply. According to a news report published by Hindustan Times, In UP, for the post of a peon, the government received 2.3 million applications, 255 of which were from Ph.D. scholars. About 222,000 were from graduates and postgraduates, including BTech and MScs.
What makes government jobs so popular amongst the Indian Youth?
Government jobs are highly valued in our country because they are perceived to be ‘permanent’. Once employed, government job’s guarantee a lifetime of employment to the job seeker. Government jobs are largely viewed as non-challenging – they do not need a high degree of specialized skill set is mostly routine and mundane in nature. Therein lies the precise problem: most Class C government jobs are clerical in nature they are more likely to be made obsolete by artificial intelligence.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on public sector jobs
According to an analysis by Deloitte and Oxford University, an estimated 861,000 government jobs could be automated by 2030. Administrative and operative roles, which account for 27 percent of the government workforce, have the highest probability of being automated. With AI playing an important adjuctury role in the workplaces. The jobs of the future will demand high levels of skill and expertise to perform tasks that robots cannot. However, a large population of the Indian workforce comprises unskilled to mid-skilled workers whose work can be easily replaced and done with higher levels of efficiency at lower costs through AI. If India does not keep up with the fourth industrial revolution also known as the Technological Revolution in order to preserve redundant clerical jobs. India will once again miss out on a critical growth opportunity. To be globally competent, India will have to automate.
The Indian education system heavily focuses on attaining bookish knowledge without preparing students for the practical application of the knowledge learnt within the classroom. Students by large, rote learn and cram for examinations. This has created a huge mismatch of skills, wherein, the skillset of the applicants does not match the aptitude required for the job. Also known, as the ‘educated unemployed youth phenomenon.
With the rise of Artificial intelligence, the future looks bleak for India if the focus is not shifted towards creating a nation of skilled students and workers. Artificial Intelligence will make administrative and clerical jobs redundant. However, there will be a new demand in the market for high skilled jobs in the fields of big data analysis, robotics, etc. These jobs require a high degree of worker creativity, critical thinking skills along with people management skills. India needs to invest in developing its education infrastructure to keep abreast with the socio-economic changes taking place.
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