NCAER Labour Economics Research Observatory (N-LERO) and New Skills at Work India

India has one of the world’s youngest populations and one million job-seekers will join India’s labour force every month for the next 20 years. India urgently needs to meet its 3E challenge of education, employability, and employment if it is to reap the demographic dividend. How India’s youth are trained and skilled will determine their readiness to be productive in the jobs of today and tomorrow. Against this background, through this first research initiative in its new Labour Economics Research Observatory (LERO), NCAER will examine the 3E chain in India, focusing on both the supply and demand for skills using a combination of analytics and surveys. Supported by J.P. Morgan, this two year research programme will engage key stakeholders from government, industry and skills training providers through a research advisory committee and convening; and as a research program will have the potential to contribute both to policy as well as practice pertaining to employability, labour markets and the skilling supply chain. The research will take a 360 degree perspective of the complex skilling environment to not only look at employability but also youth aspirations, employer requirements and interest, related policies as well as how skills ties into India’s education system.