According to the 12th edition of the India skills Report (ISR) titled “India Skills Report 2025:Global Talent Mobility-India’s Decade” released on 12th December 2024, 54.81% of Indian graduates are expected to be globally employable by 2025, increase from 51.2% in 2024, indicating a 7% rise.
- Maharashtra(84%) has topped in the India Skills Report 2025 for employability, followed by Delhi (78%), Karnataka (75%), Andhra Pradesh, AP (72%), Kerala(71%) and Uttar Pradesh, UP(70%).
- The list is topped by Gujarat in Men and AP in Women.
Note: The employability among graduates for the year is calculated from the Global Employability Test (GET) in the previous year.
About ISR 2025:
i.The “ISR 2025” was published by talent assessment agency Wheebox in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Taggd (knowledge partner).
ii.Assessment:The report is based on data from over 6.5 lakh candidates who participated in the Global Employability Test (GET) across India and insights gathered from more than 1,000 companies spanning 15 industries.
Highlights of the Report:
i.Increase in Employability:
- The employability rates are highest among management graduates (78%), followed by engineering (71.5%), Master of Commerce Administration (MCA) students (71%) and science graduates (58%).
ii.Insights on Employability:
- Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are emerging as key hubs for employable talent with cities like Pune(Maharashtra), Bengaluru(Karnataka) and Mumbai(Maharashtra) leading the way in providing skilled workforces.
- Telangana and Karnataka top in critical thinking and numerical skills.
iii.Gender Imbalance in Employability:
- The employability rate for men is expected to increase to 53.5% by 2025, up from 51.8% in 2024.
- The rate for women is projected to decrease to 47.5% in 2025 from 50.9% in 2024, highlighting the need for gender specific workforce initiatives.
iv.Training for Professional Skill Development:
- By 2025, 50% of secondary and tertiary students are expected to receive professional training, reinforcing India’s position in the global talent market.
- The priority is being placed on aligning professional training with industry needs in sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and green energy.
v.The steady rise of employability this year reflects the success of initiatives from central and state governments, institutions like AICTE, UGC, AIU, and reforms like ‘Skill India Mission’ and NEP 2020, and state skilling and education bodies which emphasize vocational training and industry-aligned education.
vi.With 50% of secondary and tertiary students expected to receive vocational training by 2025, India is setting the stage for a globally competitive workforce.
vii.India’s workforce with 65% under the age of 35, provides a substantial advantage in meeting the demands of industries in regions such as the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa.
viii.The Indian Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry is projected to reach USD 8 billion by 2025, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of over 40% from 2020 to 2025.
Kerala’s Employability Strength:
i.Kerala (India) is ranked 5th in employability among all states with a strong workforce, especially among youths (87.47% for ages 22-25) and experienced professionals (68.82% for ages 26-29).
ii.Kerala maintains a 71% employability rate ranking among top states for employment opportunities, especially for women.
iii.The state leads in English proficiency (59.72%) and digital skills (37.34%) with 96.05% of youths expressing interest in internships.
iv.The Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) Kerala was the State partner for the study.
Top 5 States for employability:
| 1 | Maharashtra(84%) |
| 2 | Delhi (78%) |
| 3 | Karnataka (75%) |
| 4 | Andhra Pradesh, AP (72%) |
| 5 | Kerala(71%) |
Top 3 Preferred States for employability for Men & Women:
| Rank | Preferred State |
|---|---|
| For Men | |
| 1 | Gujarat |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh (AP) |
| 3 | Kerala |
| For Women | |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh (AP) |
| 2 | Kerala |
| 3 | Gujarat |
Points to Note:
i.Kerala has retained its top ranking among states for the 4th consecutive time as per Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2023-24.
ii.Kerala Tourism has been awarded the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award 2024 for its innovative promotional activities in promoting tourism.
iii.Kozhikode, Kerala has become the 1st Indian city to be officially declared as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) “City of Literature”.
iv.Kerala is the 9th largest economy in India, with an annual gross state product (GSP) of Rs 9.78 lakh crore in 2020–2021.
About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM)- Devendra Fadnavis
Governor– C. P. Radhakrishnan
Capital – Mumbai
