Only 18% of B.E. grads industry ready: FICCI

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A survey done by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has revealed that only 18 per cent of engineering graduates are industry ready.

Addressing a panel discussion ‘Vocational education-route to talent development leading to employment opportunities and growth in industry’ on Friday, Mr Rafeeque Ahmed, president, FICCI (Tamil Nadu chapter), said FICCI had constituted a team of human resource managers to conduct the survey, which interviewed 218 engineering graduates. The report revealed that only 18 per cent of the graduates had skills for employment.

“We were able to make a difference in the lives of 2.4 lakh women by training and employing them in our leather industry in Vellore district. With the training in vocational skills their income increased from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 8,000, which underlines the need for vocational training”, he said.

Mr Dilip Chenoy, chief executive officer and managing director, National Skill Development Corporation, said that the country needs 348 million trained workforce but institutions produce only about 12.8 million every year.

“We have enough people but they lack proper training. The question is who is going to train them. Industry has to get together to train them”, he said.

He added that the country had trained five million persons last year and the number must reach 60 million to meet shortage of skilled manpower.

Mr Chenoy added that the country had trained five million persons last year and the number must reach 60 million to meet shortage of skilled manpower.