Here is a reality check for Odisha that is now betting big on skilling. The outlook for hiring intent in Odisha in 2018 looks dim as Odisha has figured in the bottom – 10 nationally led by Chhattisgarh. Odisha didn’t figure even in top 10 most preferred States for work in the country.

More shockers: Odisha failed to figure among top-10 States in country in employability in 2017 and Bhubaneswar is nowhere in top-10 employable cities, where Indore finds positioned at number 3.

Such grim noting has come to fore in the recently released India Skills Report-2018 by an organisation of repute – the UNDP (United Nation Development Programme). The UNDP in association with institutions like Wheebox, India’s leading online talent assessment company, PeopleStrong, India’s leading HR solutions and technology company, CII, Pearson, World’s learning company, AICTE and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has conducted a WEST – Wheebox Employability Skill Test, and an India Intent Hiring survey across 29 States covering over a 5 lakh plus students and over 120-plus employers to assess ground situation of employability and employment in the country.

The survey and WEST was conducted during July-October 2017. According to the WEST results, Odisha didn’t figure in top-10 States in country in the employability index. Employability means a job-seeker having the necessary ability to get appointed to a particular job. Given a low in employability, the damning fact is in the India Hiring Intent survey, Odisha figured in bottom-10 as only 1.6 per cent employers have expressed intent to go for hiring in Odisha in 2018 vis-a-vis of 16.5 per cent for Maharashtra. Significantly, Uttar

Pradesh figured in top-5 as a whopping over 9 per cent employers expressed hiring intent in 2018 there. The big lesson for Odisha is all mineral-bearing States, including Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, figured in bottom-10 States.

The result: Odisha didn’t figure among top-10 States in employment in country. As per the report, Andhra Pradesh leads; whereas UP positioned at number-10 in the list.

Significantly, no State driven by mineral/coal economy figured in top-10 with highest employment. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Goa were nowhere in the list. The inference is new-age job churning States walk away as big drawer of employment in country.

Karnataka, Gujarat and AP are exceptions because, they have a well entrenched new-age jobs infrastructure, and all the States are among the top-10 in employment.

The report has another big takeaway for State that is betting big in skilling by depending on ITIs and polytechnics. It says ITI and polytechnic students’ employability is a challenge among all domain students because of less focus on industry alliance and core employable skills.

In skill availability State-wise, the report has not listed Odisha among top-10 in any skills like learning ability, adaptability, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and self- determination. The report adds that in 2018 the private companies groups, software, hardware, IT, banking, financial services, engineering and auto sectors are quite positive about hiring. MNCs are in wait and watch mode in hiring, it observed.

JOB WATCH ITI/polytech joblessness high Odisha not in top-10 employable New-age jobs hold key for State