Bridging the Gap: Addressing India’s Graduate Employability Crisis Amid Rising Higher Education Enrollment

Author(s)	Mr. Kazi Hasibur Rahaman, Dr. Jakir Hussain Laskar
Country	India
Abstract	India’s higher education system has witnessed remarkable growth, with the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) rising from 9.5% in 2000 to 28.4% in 2021-22, and student enrollment reaching 43.1 million. However, this expansion has led to a significant employability crisis, as only 51.25% of graduates are deemed job-ready, and unemployment among young graduates under 25 has soared to 42.3% in 2021-22. This study analyzes the growth of higher education enrollment, examines unemployment trends among graduates compared to other educational groups, identifies key skill gaps hindering employability, and explores regional disparities in skill development, with a focus on West Bengal. Using secondary data from sources like AISHE, PLFS, and Economic Survey, the research highlights the mismatch between academic qualifications and labor market demands, driven by outdated curricula and inadequate vocational training. Policy recommendations include curriculum reforms, stronger industry-academia ties, and region-specific skill development to address these challenges and enhance graduate employability.
Keywords	Higher education, Gross Enrollment Ratio, Graduate unemployment, Employability crisis, Skill gaps.
Field	Sociology > Education
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-23
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.51887
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9t2fv

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