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India is a peculiar case study. On the one hand, it is going to be the fastest-growing economy in the world (as per IMF) in the year 2022 and possesses the largest young workforce globally, the economy does not seem to be harnessing the “demographic dividend” to its maximum. With the fourth industrial revolution going to become a reality sooner than later, India cannot afford to miss the bus. Given its young workforce, India is best suited to take the lead as western economies are saddled with an aging workforce.
Contrary to popular perception, the creation of employment opportunities should not be confined to the formal sector alone but encompass the informal sector in its ambit as well. Interestingly, the digital transformation of the Indian economy, even if at a snail’s pace, has paved the way for an aspirational class from India’s hinterland or marginalized communities to earn their living. With manufacturing moving towards automation, it is the services sector that is attracting job aspirants in increasing numbers. Moreover, given the flexible work environment offered by the services sector, especially the gig economy, it has the capability to absorb India’s young workforce.
Creating job opportunities by harnessing the internet
Interestingly, the reach of television, OTT platforms, and the internet has been remarkable in the last few years. This has brought images of the consumerist societies of western countries to the people living on the margins. This has given rise to an aspirational class that is not averse to dreaming big and moving away from the morass of poverty and squalor. The democratization of information dissemination through the internet and aided by the mobile revolution in India has created a new-age workforce from India’s margins. Think of the Uber drivers, call center workers, food and grocery delivery guys, and many others, who are earning their living by leveraging services that are based on internet-based apps. Even though critics may point to the inadequacies of a gig economy, namely the lack of job security or an unregulated work environment, etc., the very fact that people from the margins have risen to the challenge is appreciable.
The need for skill development
As the world becomes more digital and the wheels of the economy rolls faster for those riding the digital wave, people from the informal sector need to get skilled. This is due to the fact that the pandemic has hit the economy hard with scores of people, especially from the contact-based sectors, left jobless. The digital economy, on the other hand, has been largely left untouched by the scourge and even recorded unprecedented growth by many. With emerging technologies and digital platforms transforming the work profiles of people, job aspirants from India’s margins must adapt themselves to the reality. The need of the hour is to focus on digital literacy and transform the large workforce from India’s margins into digitally nimble and adaptive. The aspirational class among the marginalized communities needs to be trained in digital technologies through various skill development centers, such as the ones run by Anudip, a reputed non-profit organization established in 2007.
It is only then the digitally literate workforce can harness the opportunities provided by a digitally-driven gig economy and earn a decent living for themselves. Numerous app-driven cab or bike drivers, delivery guys, micro-entrepreneurs, people working in the hospitality, travel and tourism, and logistics sectors, and others, are a testimony to the new-age jobs created by the digital economy.
Conclusion
The silent revolution in India’s workforce wherein job aspirants from India’s margins driving the gig economy has become more pronounced. It is only fitting that more people are taken through skill development training and made ready for the competitive world increasingly driven by digitization.
