If Tech Is Booming, Why Are So Many Engineering Graduates Unemployed?
Introduction: A Tale of Two Job Posts
Recently, I posted two job openings—one for an IT role, and the other for a management position. What happened next was surprising, yet telling. The IT opening was flooded with applications within hours, while the management role sat quietly with barely any interest.
It left me wondering: Why is there such an overwhelming response to IT roles, especially from BE/B.Tech graduates, when we keep hearing about rising unemployment among engineering students?
Isn’t this the era of tech dominance, AI revolutions, and digital transformation? Shouldn’t engineers be in the driver’s seat?
Let’s dive into the paradox.
The Paradox of Plenty: Why So Many Engineers, Yet So Few Are Employed
India alone produces over 1.5 million engineers annually, but reports indicate that only 20-30% are actually employable in core engineering or IT roles. So where’s the disconnect?
1. Quantity Over Quality
In the last two decades, engineering colleges mushroomed across the country. But while the number of graduates soared, the quality of education in many of these institutions didn’t keep up. Many students graduate without the hands-on skills or practical exposure needed in real-world tech jobs.
2. Skill Mismatch
The IT world is evolving rapidly—AI, cloud computing, data analytics, cybersecurity—yet most curricula are still stuck in outdated syllabi. Companies want skills, not just degrees. The result? A generation of engineers who may hold a B.Tech but can’t write clean code or understand product design.
3. Everyone Wants to Get Into Tech
Because of the buzz around tech careers and AI, every graduate—even those with a non-CS background—is now applying for tech roles, creating a hyper-competitive market. Management roles, on the other hand, require a different mindset and experience, making them less appealing to the crowd but more specific in fit.
4. Lack of Career Guidance
Most engineering students choose their stream without truly understanding their interests or market demands. They follow the herd into engineering, only to realize too late that it’s not their cup of tea—or worse, that they aren’t industry-ready.
Why Your IT Job Got All the Love
- Perceived Job Security: Tech jobs are seen as more stable and high-paying.
- Mass Appeal: Anyone with basic coding knowledge or IT certification applies.
- Remote Work Options: IT roles increasingly offer flexibility.
- Peer Pressure: “Everyone else is doing it” is a big motivator.
The Silent Room: Why Your Management Role Got Ignored
- Requires Experience & Maturity: Most fresh grads don’t see themselves as fit for strategic or managerial roles.
- Less Glamour, More Responsibility: Managing teams, clients, and operations doesn’t sound as sexy as “building AI models.”
- Fewer, More Targeted Applicants: These roles attract those with a clear career path—not mass applicants.
Conclusion: The Need for a Mindset Shift
The real issue isn’t the lack of jobs—it’s the lack of alignment between what the market needs and what our education system produces.
It’s time for:
- Educational reform that aligns syllabi with current industry demands.
- Upskilling and reskilling—technical certifications, soft skills, and internships.
- Career guidance early in academic life to help students make informed choices.
We don’t just need more engineers.
We need better-prepared, agile, and purpose-driven professionals—whether they enter IT, management, or any other field.
Final Thought:
So the next time you wonder why engineering graduates are unemployed despite the tech boom, remember—it’s not the lack of opportunities, it’s the lack of readiness.
And that, perhaps, is the biggest fix we all need to work toward.
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