Only 42.6% of Indian graduates are employable. Educator reveals why

Educator Prashant Kirad says only 42.6% of Indian graduates are employable, arguing colleges are preparing students for outdated jobs. He urges students to focus on communication, AI literacy, practical projects and specialised skills to improve career prospects.

In Short

• Educator Prashant Kirad says only 42.6% of Indian graduates are employable
• He argues colleges are preparing students for an outdated job market
• Communication, AI literacy and real-world projects matter more than grades, he says

A college degree may help secure an interview, but it is no longer enough to land a job, according to educator and author Prashant Kirad.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Kirad highlighted what he described as the widening gap between higher education and industry expectations. Citing that only 42.6% of Indian graduates are employable, he argued that the issue is not a lack of effort from students but an education system that is preparing them for a job market that has already changed.

"More than half are walking out of college with a degree the job market does not value," Kirad wrote, adding that many institutions continue to focus on outdated methods while employers increasingly prioritise practical skills.

COMMUNICATION MATTERS MORE THAN MARKS

According to Kirad, one of the biggest skills employers seek is effective communication. He stressed that this goes beyond English fluency and includes the ability to explain ideas clearly in meetings, presentations and emails.

He suggested that communication has become a key differentiator during hiring, often outweighing technical expertise in the initial stages of recruitment.

PROJECTS OVER GPA

Kirad also questioned the importance placed on academic scores, saying employers are more interested in what candidates have built or solved outside the classroom.

According to him, real-world projects demonstrate problem-solving ability and initiative in ways that grades alone cannot. A strong portfolio of practical work, he argued, often carries greater weight than several semesters of theoretical learning.

AI LITERACY IS BECOMING ESSENTIAL

Another area Kirad highlighted is artificial intelligence. As companies across sectors increasingly integrate AI into their operations, he believes graduates who know how to use AI tools have an advantage during recruitment.

He noted that AI literacy is becoming valuable regardless of a student's engineering branch, academic discipline or the reputation of their college.

SPECIALISATION CAN IMPROVE EMPLOYABILITY

Kirad also advised students to develop expertise in at least one area instead of trying to be familiar with everything.

According to him, employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can contribute from day one, making specialised knowledge more attractive than a broad but shallow skill set.

'THE SKILL GETS YOU THE JOB'

Summing up his advice, Kirad wrote that while a degree may open the door to an interview, it is skills that ultimately determine whether a candidate gets hired.

He urged students not to wait until graduation to start building experience. Instead, he encouraged them to work on projects, strengthen practical skills and continuously learn beyond the classroom.

"You do not need to finish college to start," Kirad wrote. "You just need to start."

His post has resonated with many LinkedIn users, adding to the ongoing conversation around employability, industry readiness and the need for higher education to keep pace with rapidly changing workplace demands.

(Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)

- Ends