Skill gap driving graduate unemployment: Khader

Mangaluru: Speaker UT Khader Thursday said many graduates were struggling to find jobs despite having qualifications because they lacked the skills required by employers.He was speaking after inaugurating the three-day Kanara Engineering Industrial Tech Expo 2026, organised by the Kanara Industries Association in Mangaluru.Khader said unemployment among educated youth was being driven by a mismatch between academic learning and industry needs. He said many young people had degrees but not the skills needed for employment, and called for deeper discussions between industry and academia to address the issue."The educated must have the right skills, and there is a need for a separate policy in this regard. No book knowledge is useful if one does not have skills," he said.Saying that India had strong human resources capable of fitting in anywhere in the world, Khader added that people must develop the ability to learn new knowledge and adapt. He said there was a need to set up language labs to bridge this gap.Speaking on micro, small and medium enterprises, he said MSMEs should aim to compete globally and adopt more technology in their existing facilities. Referring to global disruptions, he said events such as wars in other parts of the world affected India through shortages of LPG and fuel.Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said small-scale industries in the region should emulate successful models from other states and focus on quality and global standards.Kanara Industries Association president MD Poojary said small-scale industries were dominated by men and called for greater participation by women entrepreneurs. He said poor connectivity to Bengaluru was hindering industrial growth and urged elected representatives to address the issue.The expo has been organised to provide a platform for local industries to connect with global markets, adopt advanced technologies and improve product quality.
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