LabourNet

India is one of the youngest nations globally, with ~65% of its population is in the working-age group and ~54% below the age of 29. Unemployment rates have been at the core of several issues in the country. While the literacy rates continue to increase, the low employability suggests that there is something gone amiss. According to the WTO, India’s GDP level can increase up to 3%-5% in 2035 if we focus on skill development and training.

LabourNet, one of India’s largest social enterprises, identifies this lacuna and presents a sustainable solution. They pinpoint the issue as a huge gap between the skills that industries demand and the skills that young people acquire through traditional/school education. If left unchecked, this demand-supply gap will increase economic disparities and prevent inclusive growth of the economy. Through skill development, entrepreneurial development, and employment formalization one can enhance a person’s employability, empower them and increase their social acceptance.

Today, irrespective of the level of education, whether the job is white collared or blue, skills are indispensable. LabourNet has developed/designed a model that leverages technology (Recognition of Prior Learning) to evaluate a person’s existing skillsets before any training. This helps workers to pick the right capacity building and skill development courses. Thereafter, Labournet connects the trained workers to customers and employers.

Labournet has set up livelihood centres in rural areas and enable access to training and skilling solutions in this market. It has a PAN-India presence and covers multiple sectors, locations and stakeholders. They operate with 100+ livelihood centres, 800+ school, 2,000+ corporate relationships and 5,000+ training sites.

Their vision resonates with C4D’s belief in building inclusive economies – where economic principle goes hand-in-hand with the well-being of people and the protection of the environment. On the one hand, LabourNet bridges gaps in education, employment, and entrepreneurship, while on the other, they help corporates in India transition to new ways of getting work done. LabourNet’s integration of social and business impact aligns with C4D’s strategies to deliver both lasting impact and a risk-adjusted market-rate return for investors.

While a three-pronged approach is by itself sustainable, LabourNet also emphasizes the sustainable development goals of Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Job and Economic Growth, Strengthen and Revitalize the Global Partnership.