1. The Employability
Skills Toolbox:
Is English the Key?
Simon Etherton, British Council South India
TEE Conference 2013 Thoothukudi

2. “It is not unemployment that
is the problem; it is the
question of unemployability
that is the major crisis in this
competitive arena…”
(APJ Abdul Kalam)

3.  700,000 Engineering graduates
75% Unemployable
 2,000,000 General graduates
90% Unemployable
(NASSCOM 2011)
“Poor English makes
47% of graduates
unemployable”
(Times of India 14/11/2013)

4. Approximately 75-80 million jobs will be created
in India in the next 5 years.
IT sector alone faces a shortfall of 500,000
professionals (NASSCOM)
High growth with strong demand for labour on the
one hand.
Large pool of labour, the majority of it
unemployable on the other.

5. Employability skills can therefore be
defined as:
the skills, knowledge and attributes
required to gain employment, and then
to be able to adapt, progress and learn
successfully in that employment to the
benefit of the individual, the employer
and the economy.

6. Employers typically ask:
• Are you punctual and dress appropriately?
• Can you work in a team?
• Have you a confident, polite manner?
• Can you explain things clearly?
• Are you a creative thinker and able to solve
problems?
• Can you communicate effectively with colleagues?
• Can you use standard office software?
• Are you able to learn new technologies and
processes quickly?

7. What skills are most in demand?
 Soft skills
 Communication skills
 Technology skills

8. How important is English?
“Special emphasis on verbal and written
communication skills, especially, but not
limited to, English would go a long way in
improving the employability of the large
and growing mass of disempowered
youth”
Planning Commission 2012
12th Five Year Plan

9. National Skills Development Council (NSDC)
22 „sectors‟ identified through the research.
Over half require English as an essential
competency to complement core domain
skills, including:
 IT industry
 Media and entertainment
 Tourism, Hospitality
 Healthcare
 Organised retail
 Building, construction and real estate

10. Summary of findings related to
communication skills:
• Communication skills are vital to all sectors
• The language required is not always specified
• English is identified, implied or taken for
granted in many sectors
• There is a widespread need for effective
communication in local languages as well
• There is also an expressed need for other
international languages

11. What are the implications for teaching
English?
 Accepting responsibility
 Collaborating with industry and being aware
of needs
 Focusing on relevant English skills
 Changing classroom practices

12. Conclusion:
• There is a growing gap between the skills
required for employment and the skills
being developed in schools and colleges.
• Communication skills, soft skills and IT
skills are central to employability.
• English is a key requirement in many
sectors, and its importance is likely to
increase, not decrease.
• The way we teach English and what we
teach is crucial to addressing the
employability issue.

13. Thank you
Any questions?