Chapter 2: People as Resource

Educated unemployment has become a common phenomenon in India. Youths with matriculation, graduation and post-graduation degrees are unable to get jobs in India. This is because the education system in India labels anyone above the age of 18 years as eligible to work. This leaves the youth unskilled and ultimately unemployed. It is important that an individual who does not only have a degree but must also be skilled enough to get a job.

There are three types of activities into which the employment sector is divided: the primary sector, secondary sector and tertiary sector. The largest part of India’s population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood, yet there is a massive scope of disguised unemployment in the agricultural sector. Hence the manufacturing sector, a secondary activity, is the one where the maximum part of the population can be given employment due to the increase in the number of industries.

Some measures that can be taken in the education system to mitigate the problem of educated unemployed are as follows:

1. Make secondary level education more career-oriented. This practice will not just help individuals get an education but also enhance their skills and get better employment opportunities.
2. An individual should be able to choose the subjects that suit his or her abilities.
3. New subjects and fields of study should be introduced at the school level, which can be opted for a career in the future. This will open an opportunity for students to plan their future options at the school level itself.

Students must answer this question based on their own experience.

Human capital can be considered to be the best out of the land, labour, physical and human capital. This is because the other resources cannot be used all by themselves, and only humans can use other resources and get productive outcomes from them.