Uttarakhand – In a step towards improving employment and skill development, the Uttarakhand government is set to conduct its first-ever Skill Census. The initiative aims to connect youth with jobs that match their interests, promote self-employment, and help the state design schemes aligned with workforce needs. The Skill Development Committee has already begun preparations for the project.
Officials said the census will assess the state’s current skill landscape and identify areas where specific training or manpower is needed. So far, only Andhra Pradesh has initiated a similar pilot project in Mangalagiri Assembly and Thullur Mandal. Uttarakhand will become the second state in India to conduct such a census.
Pankaj Kumar, the nodal officer for the Skill Census, informed that government approval has been granted and a consultancy is being finalized to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The structure and methodology of the census will be defined once the DPR is complete.
The survey will collect information about individuals’ education and technical skills while also gathering data from industries on their skill requirements. Based on this data, participants will receive a “Skill ID” reflecting their abilities. The government plans to use this information to bridge skill gaps and develop targeted training programs.
The method of data collection—whether online or offline—is yet to be finalized. However, officials expect the exercise to help align the education system and government policies with the state’s real skill and employment needs.
