45% of Graduating Engineers Unemployed, Yet AV Companies
Struggle to Find Talent - How to Bridge the Gap?
By Rhythm Arora, Chief Technology Officer, Qubix Technologies
The irony of India's engineering landscape is stark; despite nearly half of graduating engineers
remaining unemployed, businesses in the audiovisual industry struggle to find skilled talent,
even at attractive salaries. In this insightful article, Rhythm Arora, Chief Technology Officer
at Qubix Technologies, delves into the underlying causes of this disconnect, exploring the
cultural, societal, and economic factors that influence the career choices of young engineers.
Arora provides insight on the challenges facing the AV industry and proposes practical solutions
to bridge the gap between unemployed engineers and the AV industry's talent needs.
It's a paradox: while 45% of graduating engineers remain unemployed, businesses-especially in the AV
industry-struggle to hire skilled or semi-skilled workers, even at wages well above the minimum.
Although there's been extensive discussion around aligning education with industry needs, skill
development isn't the only issue keeping engineers unemployed.
Overemphasis on Government Jobs
Government jobs, often seen as "set for life" regardless of effort, are still the ideal for many.
Private-sector jobs, even with higher pay, are viewed as compromises and seldom the first choice.
Parental Influence and Comfort Zones
Many young graduates also face pressure from their families. Parents often take pride in supporting
a dependent, making the transition into the workforce harder. In some cases, new hires quit within
weeks, citing homesickness or the lack of home-cooked meals. Instead of encouraging resilience,
families often urge them to return home, where they're assured, they won't need to work.
Big City Hurdles
Engineering jobs are concentrated in major cities, where the challenges of adjusting to new
environments-finding accommodation, food, and surviving the initial days-can be overwhelming for
recent graduates.
The Probable Solution
Both problems seem significant but can be addressed. We need to make private-sector jobs-especially
in industries like AV and IT-more appealing and accessible. The reality is that salaries in these
sectors are far higher than most government jobs, even when factoring in retirement benefits.
By improving the perception of private-sector careers and offering better support during the
transition, we can help bridge the gap between the unemployed talent pool and the industries in need
of manpower.