Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 03: Today’s landmark launch of “Building Odisha’s Green Workforce” crystallizes India’s energy transition strategy.
iFOREST released groundbreaking research at World Skill Center today. Report outlines Odisha’s green economy job creation roadmap. Ten lakh FTE jobs possible within a decade. Energy transition paired with targeted skilling ensures workforce readiness successfully.
Massive Job Creation Potential Identified
Odisha’s green economy could generate 10 lakh full-time equivalent jobs. Renewable energy sector alone projects 29,400 jobs by 2030. Conservative estimates suggest 57,000+ positions by 2035 realistically. Green investment pipeline adds 48,400+ additional employment opportunities regionally.
Existing Workforce Can Transition Successfully
Analysis reveals 89% of coal-mining roles show critical-mineral transferability potential. Seventy-five percent thermal power jobs transfer to renewable energy sectors. Workers already possess foundational skills for green economy transitions. Targeted reskilling programmes bridge remaining competency gaps efficiently.
Technical Education Infrastructure Exists But Lacks Integration
Odisha operates 489 ITIs and 161 polytechnics statewide currently. 385 PMKVY centres provide additional training capacity. Green skills integration into mainstream curricula remains limited, though improving. Infrastructure expansion requires focus on outcome-based upskilling rather than facilities.
Technical Education Remains Bottleneck
Only 4.22% of Odisha’s youth pursued technical education formally. This improved from 1.76% recorded in 2018 encouragingly. Hereditary learning and on-the-job training still dominate workforce development. Formal technical education must scale rapidly for green transition.
Gender Disparity Threatens Inclusive Green Workforce Development
Women’s on-the-job training access stands critically low at 4%. Male workers receive 19.5% on-the-job training comparative rates. Gender parity remains essential for inclusive green economy participation. Skills centres must prioritize women’s access to green sector training.
Budget Allocation Misaligned with Outcomes
Odisha’s 2026–27 budget allocates ₹805 crore to skilling provisions. Eighty-nine percent funds infrastructure capacity expansion alone regrettably. Direct skilling and entrepreneurship programmes receive disproportionately lower financial allocation. Future budgets must prioritize employment outcomes over infrastructure development.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS
Immediate Actions Required:
1.Integrate green skills curricula into all 489 ITIs and polytechnics immediately.
2.Design gender-inclusive skilling programmes with dedicated women-focused green economy training pathways.
3.Establish outcome-based funding mechanisms linking skilling investments to employment metrics directly.
4.Create bridging programmes connecting coal-mining workers to critical-mineral sector opportunities.
5.Develop entrepreneurship support frameworks leveraging 10 lakh job opportunity ecosystem comprehensively.
THE GREEN SKILLS IMPERATIVE
Odisha’s transition from coal-dependent economy demands systematic workforce preparation urgently. Green economy jobs aren’t distant aspiration—they’re emerging employment reality today. Strategic planning ensures existing workforce transitions smoothly to renewable sectors. Skill centres must become green economy’s backbone infrastructure immediately.
Forest conservation sectors particularly benefit from this transition strategy. Reforestation initiatives require trained workforce in green economy frameworks. Odisha’s green investment pipeline includes significant forestry and ecosystem restoration projects. Skilled workers drive both economic growth and environmental sustainability simultaneously.
ABOUT THE RESEARCH
iFOREST’s comprehensive analysis examined Odisha’s labour market transition prospects carefully. Report synthesizes data from coal mining, thermal power and manufacturing sectors. International best practices informed recommendations for skills infrastructure and policy design. Study covers job creation potential spanning 2025 through 2035 timeframes.
NEXT STEPS: BUILDING MOMENTUM
World Skill Center and development partners outline implementation roadmap next. Institutions will pilot integrated green skills curricula starting immediately. Women-focused skilling programmes launch within Q4 2026 fiscal year. Quarterly progress reviews ensure accountability and outcomes-based programme management throughout.
