Engineering was once a fad, now a dilemma: Only 10 per cent of 15 lakh graduates likely to get jobs this year

Over the years, engineering has reigned supreme in India’s educational and career aspirations landscape, so much so that it has almost become a rite of passage. This trend, which began in the late 20th century, was driven by India’s urgent need to industrialize and bolstered by its global reputation as an emerging technological power. Families saw engineering not just as a career path, but as a secure future. A degree in this field promises not only lucrative job opportunities but also prestigious social status. However, as the years passed, the engineering dream transformed from a national obsession to an overwhelming reality.
From hot trends to crowded scenarios
After India’s independence, the need for engineers in the country skyrocketed as it embarked on the journey of self-reliance, industrialization and technological development. This boom was further fueled by the IT revolution in the 1990s, which made engineering synonymous with success.
Parents sent their children to the region, and universities quickly sprang up to meet the growing demand. By the early 2000s, engineering had become the default academic track for many, with the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) leading the way in producing world-class talent.
Yet this golden age of engineering as a guaranteed ticket to success has faded. Over the past few years, the market has been flooded with graduates, and even premier institutes like the IITs are seeing a decline in placements. According to recent reports, even top performers are not untouched by this trend.
For example, in 2024, only 60% of IIT graduates will secure placements, a survey shows TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, a degree apprenticeship provider, is working with 22 universities including TeamLease Skills UniversityThis is a worrying figure considering the reputation of these institutions. The question is, if the best are struggling, what hope is left for millions of graduates from other engineering colleges?

Reality check: Only 10% of engineering graduates will be able to secure employment in 2024
report by teamlease has come up with a sobering statistic: Only 10% of the 15 lakh engineering graduates passing out this year will get jobs. This stark figure underscores a deep-rooted problem in India’s education system: a huge gap between academic training and industry demands, leaving millions of graduates underprepared and unemployed.
according to AR RameshCEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, calculations depend on a combination of factors, including employment rates, industry demand and a significant skills gap.
“To break it down, India produces around 1.5 million engineering graduates every year. While about 60% of them are actively looking for employment, only 45% meet industry standards in terms of skill readiness,” says Ramesh.

Furthermore, the emergence of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles, and semiconductors has shifted demand toward specialized, high-tech skills, skills that many graduates lack.
Anikit Agarwal, Founder and CEO stopA leading talent upgradation platform for students that TOI spoke to pointed to the growing gap between fresh graduates and industry-specific skill demands due to lack of practical experience. “Although students may understand the fundamentals of AI, ML, cloud computing and cybersecurity – key emerging skills in engineering – they lack exposure to real-world problem-solving and project-based learning,” says Aggarwal. ” He adds, “The main problem lies in the gap between the skills taught in academic settings and the practical competencies sought by employers.”

The National Employability Report for Engineering, 2019, reflects similar concerns, reporting that 80% of Indian engineers did not have the skills needed to advance in the job market despite having a degree.

Echoing similar views, Ramesh points out that the issue is not necessarily a lack of jobs, but a mismatch in expectations and skill sets. “If we break down the numbers, you will find that out of the 60% of graduates who are employable, only 45% meet industry expectations. Now, the rise of AI and advanced technology has created an additional demand-supply gap have skills, this figure further falls to around 10-15%,” he says. Essentially, while jobs exist, they are inaccessible to most graduates due to the inability to meet the emerging demands of a tech-driven market.

Explained: The gap between degrees and skills among budding engineers
India’s technology sector is growing at a rapid pace, yet the gap between academic output and industry needs is widening. According to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), the country will need more than one million engineers skilled in AI and other advanced technologies within the next 2-3 years. Yet, according to the TeamLease report, the demand-supply gap for digital talent is expected to widen from 25% to nearly 30% by 2028. This is particularly worrying given the current oversupply of general engineering graduates and their lack of preparation to fill these vacancies. Specialized and specialist roles.
A major challenge is the misalignment between academic curriculum and industry expectations. Ramesh points out that despite the large number of engineering colleges, the training these students receive is often outdated. “The focus needs to shift towards apprenticeships and internships that blend theoretical knowledge with practical industry experience. This is the only way to ensure that graduates are ready for the job market,” he said. Yet, only a small number of students pursue such opportunities during their academic years.
The rise of new technologies, from semiconductors to AI, has also worsened the situation. According to the NITI Aayog report titled Electronics: Strengthening India’s participation in global value chains, 80% of electronics engineers in India lack the skills required to advance in their field. This skills gap is not limited to just one sector but spans across multiple industries, creating a bottleneck in hiring even as companies increase hiring in tech-centric sectors.
Bridging the gap: Strong academia-industry relationships can be saviors
Given the current scenario, one would ask what can be done? Ramesh suggests a multi-pronged approach, starting with strong collaboration between academia and industry to align the curriculum with market needs. new education policy The NEP has already initiated some of these reforms, aiming to integrate vocational training and real-world experience into the educational framework. But progress is slow, and meanwhile, millions of graduates remain in limbo.
Also spoke to TOI Abhimanyu Sexena The ed-tech platform specializes in improving techies across domains like Scala, AI, Data Science and many more. Talking about the issue of lack of industry-centric curriculum, he says, “The main issue is that no one, including mainstream educational institutions, is working directly with industry leaders. Must understand the essential skills and abilities required.” Design our curriculum and teaching methods accordingly, and involve professionals who are actively working in the field to guide students.”
When asked what possible changes can be made to the current engineering pedagogy in India, Saxena shared that one of the key ways is to make industry experience mandatory through internships or apprenticeships. “But University of WaterlooAll students are required to complete a minimum 12-month industry internship. It is recommended that students gain practical experience by working in industry for two years of their four-year degree,” he suggests.
For students graduating in the next few years, taking up an internship or apprenticeship role, even at a lower salary, may be the most practical way to bridge the gap between education and employability. “The aim is to gain industry knowledge and experience, which will ultimately lead to better opportunities,” explains Ramesh.
As the market evolves, so should India’s approach to education. Only then can the country truly harness the potential of its engineering talent, ensuring that the next generation of graduates can contribute meaningfully to the country’s development. Until then, the engineering dream will remain just that, a dream for many, with only a few able to realize its full potential.