Green Jobs In India And The Role Of Skill Development In Economic Growth

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth development and employment

Why in the News?

The iFOREST assessment, India’s Green Jobs Moment, highlights the role of green employment in addressing job challenges and supporting India’s transition to a green economy.

News in Brief

• The World Bank reported that 496 million Indians moved out of poverty between 2011 and 2023.
• India’s transition towards a net-zero economy by 2070 is creating green employment opportunities in renewable energy, EVs, green hydrogen, recycling and nature-based solutions.
• The iFOREST assessment estimates that these sectors could generate over 1.3 crore jobs by 2035. Around 71% of thermal power roles and 90% of automobile roles have potential for transition through targeted training.
• Limited technical education and vocational training remain major barriers to building a skilled workforce for the green economy.

Green Jobs as Drivers of Inclusive Growth

• India’s poverty reduction has been accompanied by rising employment, stronger consumption and increasing participation of women in paid work.
• The next challenge is to sustain this progress by generating better-quality and secure employment.
• Green jobs can help bridge the gap between economic growth, employment generation and environmental sustanability.
• They can also provide livelihood opportunities to households that have recently moved out of poverty.

Emerging sectors for green employment

• India’s transition towards Viksit Bharat by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070 is creating employment opportunities across several sectors.
• Major areas include;
  • Renewable Energy: Solar and wind energy installation, maintenance and operations.
  • Energy Storage: Battery manufacturing, maintenance and recycling.
  • Electric Vehicles: EV manufacturing, charging infrastructure and repair services.
  • Green Hydrogen: Production, storage and transportation of green hydrogen.
  • Waste Management: Waste recovery, recycling and circular economy activities.
  • Nature-based Solutions: Agroforestry, mangrove restoration and ecosystem conservation.
• These activities can generate employment across both urban and rural areas.

Local Employment Opportunities

• Green employment is not limited to large industries or urban centres.
• Many opportunities are available in smaller towns and villages.
• Rooftop solar installation, EV repair, waste recovery and recycling can create local employment.
• Nature-based activities such as agroforestry and mangrove restoration can generate livelihood opportunities, particularly in rural areas.
• These jobs can improve household incomes and strengthen rural economic resilience.

Existing Workforce can Transition to Green Jobs

• India does not need to build an entirely new green workforce.
• Around 71% of assessed thermal power sector roles have high or medium transferability to renewable energy and green hydrogen.
• Nearly 90% of automobile sector roles can transition towards EV-related employment with targeted training.
• Many technicians can move into green occupations through short bridge courses rather than pursuing entirely new qualifications.
• This provides an opportunity to utilise existing industrial skills while reducing the cost and time required for workforce transition.

Skill Development Remains a Major Challenge

• Despite the growing demand for green jobs, India’s technical and vocational training ecosystem faces significant gaps.
  • Only 5.3% of young people have received technical education.
  • Only 5% have undergone formal vocational training.
  • Direct employment in key green sectors is projected to grow by about 4.5 lakh jobs annually.
  • Existing dedicated green programmes have trained around 81,000 people.
  • Around 43% of formally trained workers have completed courses lasting less than six months.
• While short-term training is useful for basic skills, advanced green occupations require deeper technical knowledge and specialised training.

Strengthening India’s Skill Development Infrastructure

• India already has an institutional foundation for developing a green workforce.
• India has over 15,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), with more than 26 lakh seats.
• The PM-SETU scheme aims to modernize 1,000 government ITIs.
• Green laboratories , trained instructors and industry-oriented training programmes are necessary to improve the quality of vocational education.
• Apprenticeships and longer-term specialized courses can help bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements.
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is revising the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to strengthen the country’s skill development framework.

Challenges in India’s Green Jobs Transition

• India faces challenges in expanding green employment.
• The skill gap and limited access to technical and vocational education restrict the availability of a trained workforce.
• Existing training programmes are often short-term and may not meet the specialized requirements of advanced green occupations.
• Regional inequalities in employment opportunities and training infrastructure further limit access to green jobs.
• The transition from coal and thermal power also raises concerns about employment security for existing workers, highlighting the need for a just transition.
• Additionally, ITIs require modern laboratories, updated curricula and stronger industry partnerships.
• A large number of workers in waste collection and recycling remain in the informal sector, often without stable incomes or adequate social security.

Way Forward and Conclusion

India should align vocational training with emerging green sectors, modernize ITIs and promote industry partnerships to build a skilled workforce. Bridge courses can help existing workers transition into green occupations, while rural employment can be promoted through renewable energy, agroforestry and waste management.

A just transition framework should ensure reskilling, alternative livelihoods and social security for affected and informal workers. Strengthening these measures can make green jobs a driver of inclusive growth and sustainable development, supporting India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

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