Multiple careers for youths recommended

Noted economist Jaimini Bhagwati today stressed that youths in the country upgrade their skills for better employment oppurtunities and recommended multiple careers.
At the speed at which technology is changing many will have multiple careers compared to the past, Bhagwati, who is currently the RBI Chair Professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, said here.
He suggested that the youth acquire new skills, specialisation in horticulture, processed food and dairy products even if they are not from these disciplines as it would help them in their employment opportunities.
In the agriculture sector there is need to focus on value-added related sub sectors and those already employed should upgrade their skills to remain in the job market, the former ambassador said.

As the manufacturing sector was not growing at the rate needed to fully absorb fresh graduates, he suggested that it would be useful for them to look for apprentice floor training.
With 6-8 million young people across the country entering the work force each year for the next decade or so, he said creating new employment opportunities on this scale is a huge challenge.

Referring to Assam, he said with GST becoming operational from July one it should help create job opportunities if transportation in the state is made faster and more reliable. Easier and faster access to Chittagong and Kolkata ports would help further.

Bhagwati, who was delivering here the Cotton College 117th Foundation Day Lecture on Employment Opportunities for the Youth of Assam, said there are immense possibilities and opportunities for the youth to find employment in Assam due to its natural resources and its strategic location.
Though Assam was a low income state between 2001-12 things have picked up and is close to mean in 2013-15.
Cotton College, set up in 1901, was proclaimed a full fledged university in January 2017 by merging the erstwhile Cotton College State University and Cotton College together. The university will start functioning from July one this year.