The Employability Skills Toolbox:Is English the Key?

Simon Etherton, British Council South IndiaTEE Conference 2013 Thoothukudi

“It is not unemployment that is the problem; it is the question of unemployability that is the major crisis in this competitive arena…” (APJ Abdul Kalam)

700,000 Engineering graduates75% Unemployable

2,000,000 General graduates90% Unemployable(NASSCOM 2011)

“Poor English makes 47% of graduates unemployable”(Times of India 14/11/2013)

Approximately 75-80 million jobs will be created in India in the next 5 years.

IT sector alone faces a shortfall of 500,000 professionals (NASSCOM)

High growth with strong demand for labour on the one hand.

Large pool of labour, the majority of it unemployable on the other.

Employability skills can therefore be defined as:

the skills, knowledge and attributes required to gain employment, and then to be able to adapt, progress and learn successfully in that employment to the benefit of the individual, the employer and the economy.

Employers typically ask:• Are you punctual and dress appropriately?• Can you work in a team?• Have you a confident, polite manner?• Can you explain things clearly?• Are you a creative thinker and able to solve

problems?• Can you communicate effectively with colleagues?• Can you use standard office software?• Are you able to learn new technologies and

processes quickly?

What skills are most in demand?

Soft skills

Communication skills

Technology skills

How important is English?

“Special emphasis on verbal and written communication skills, especially, but not limited to, English would go a long way in improving the employability of the large and growing mass of disempowered youth”

Planning Commission 201212th Five Year Plan

National Skills Development Council (NSDC)22 ‘sectors’ identified through the research.Over half require English as an essential competency to complement core domain skills, including: IT industry Media and entertainment Tourism, Hospitality Healthcare Organised retail Building, construction and real estate

Summary of findings related to communication skills:• Communication skills are vital to all sectors• The language required is not always specified• English is identified, implied or taken for

granted in many sectors• There is a widespread need for effective

communication in local languages as well• There is also an expressed need for other

international languages

What are the implications for teaching English?

Accepting responsibilityCollaborating with industry and being aware

of needsFocusing on relevant English skillsChanging classroom practices

Conclusion:• There is a growing gap between the skills

required for employment and the skills being developed in schools and colleges.

• Communication skills, soft skills and IT skills are central to employability.

• English is a key requirement in many sectors, and its importance is likely to increase, not decrease.

• The way we teach English and what we teach is crucial to addressing the employability issue.

Thank you

Any questions?