A million fresh skilled workforce will be needed in the aviation sector over the next decade, according to Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and MoS for Parliamentary Affairs.

Shri Rudy said that there is great urgency in addressing the skill gaps in every sector including the aviation and the aerospace sectors.  Speaking specifically about the aviation sector Shri Rudy said that nearly 80 per cent of the skilled jobs that will be needed over the next 10 years will be in the operations and MRO segments.  The balance would be in research and development, manufacturing and maintenance.  “We are on an average talking about 100,000 skill-based jobs a year in the aviation/aero space sector over the next 10 years,” he said.

For the first time in India, a dedicated ministry for skill development and entrepreneurship was formed by government last year that is headed by Shri Rudy.  Work on the new Skill Policy is also underway.  The Minister said that the Skill Policy 2015 over which consultations are underway among various stakeholders should be ready over the next two months.  “While the Skill Policy 2009 was looking at a target of creating 500 million skilled workforce by 2022, it would be more realistic to look at 300 million.  The new skill policy will be the framework we will create to address this challenge,” he said.

Construction, retail, infrastructure, auto/auto components, hospitality, BFSI are some of the sectors where the skill gap is widest.   Plans are also afoot to move school drop outs to make a lateral move into the skilling ecosystem and convert school dropouts into skilled workforce which will also be supported by a robust credit support system that will help finance the acquisition of skills.

The Minister also spoke about the proposed MoU that will be signed by MSDE and Ministry of Defence for creating an army of trainers from the large number retiring officers from the armed forces.  “With 1.5 million people we have the third largest armed force in the world.  Every year around 50,000 people from our armed forces retire after 10-20 years of service, who come under the level of Junior Commissioned Officers and below.  These ex-servicemen can be trained to become trainers and who in turn will be skilling the youth of our country in various job roles or provide them the opportunity to become entrepreneurs,” Shri Rudy said.  A joint working group with representation from both ministries are now in talks.