Four years ago, Keshav Raj, a 27-year-old Indian, graduated with a degree in computer science and secured internships in startups in India and Indonesia to improve his chances of securing a job. Despite decent grades and internships, Raj has yet to land a well-paying job, leading him to take a role as a customer care executive at Amazon. His story is not unique; hundreds of thousands of educated Indians are seeking employment outside the country, driven by a desire for higher remuneration, better career progression, and superior standards of living.
Data from foundit, a job portal, shows an 11.4% increase this year in the number of international job listings by consultants and companies seeking talent in India, accompanied by a 59.4% jump in the number of applications by Indian users of the platform. Canadians, Australians, and the UAE are among the top destinations Indians seek opportunities in. Professionals in STEM industries like technology, life sciences, and engineering are more sought after globally due to their expertise, adaptability, and cost competitiveness.
However, India’s brain drain is not a new phenomenon, and it is not limited to the country’s professionals. Development economist Jayati Ghosh notes that the country has a “young generation who are aspirational and want to live a better life than their parents.” The number of jobs in India has not risen in tandem with the nation’s GDP growth of 5-7% per annum, leading to a jobs crisis. Half of India’s working-age population is employed, with many young people, including the most skilled, trying to leave the country, leaving skill gaps despite a huge pool of unemployed people.
Ghosh attributes this issue to a multifaceted problem, including gaps in public employment, which sees government hospitals, schools, and railways having unfilled vacancies for around 7 million roles. The economist also notes that employment is not treated as a main policy goal by the government, with policies oriented to big corporates owned by the likes of the Adanis, Ambanis, and the Tatas, rather than to medium and small micro enterprises, which employ around 85-90% of the population.
The government has begun to adopt a more contemporary approach to looking at movement and mobility, viewing brain drain as a “term from the last century.” The movement of Indian workers is now seen as a reflection of the integrated and interconnected global workforce, with benefits including the economic gains from an increase in remittances.
However, the future of India’s workforce is critical. To ensure that India remains competitive, the country must invest in upskilling initiatives for fresh graduates and those already in the workforce to ensure they remain relevant to constantly evolving business needs and consumer demands. India must also invest in urban planning and building better infrastructure to make cities more livable and attractive for its population.
Organizations too have a part to play in creating a compelling value proposition, such as providing candidates with clear career pathways and opportunities for leadership development in the long term. By addressing deep systemic issues, India can create a better and more competitive workforce, offering opportunities for its people to thrive, like Raj, who is eager to leave India to pursue better opportunities abroad.