The Hindu Business Line : More training vital to stay competitive, say employees

At least nine out of 10 Indian employees believe their current skill will be outdated within five years, according to a survey by HR firm Kelly Services.

The survey finds that more than a third of the respondents believe that the training currently provided by their employers will not meet their future career needs.

The Kelly Global Workforce Index obtained the views of nearly 100,000 people in 34 countries including almost 5,000 in India.

Mr Dhiren Shantilal, Senior Vice-President - Asia Pacific, said that in an increasingly competitive global economy, investing in vital human capital can become a key competitive advantage for firms.

“Training may not seem a priority in the present economic climate, but organisations that devote the resources will be more likely to see higher productivity and profitability in future,” he added.

The survey highlights the significance that employees across age groups place on training and skills development to sustain them in a rapidly changing labour market.

Key findings of the survey include baby boomers (aged 48-65) being most worried about the level of training they receive, with 43 per cent saying it is not sufficient to upgrade skills and advance their career.

At least 90 per cent of both Gen Y (aged 18-29) and Gen X (aged 30-47) say that within the next five years their skills will need to be upgraded to keep pace with changes in the workplace.

Among respondents, 69 per cent say that training should be a joint responsibility between an employer and employee. The preference among those surveyed is for on-the-job training (52 per cent), followed by professional development courses (33 per cent), self-initiated learning (13 per cent) and formal university or college qualifications (3 per cent).

More women respondents preferred on-the-job training, and men preferred professional development courses as the best method to upgrade their skills.

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