Training helps one flourish and stay competitive with trends, skills, processes and systems that deliver efficiency, and of course, the superior product,” says Brand-expert Harish Bijoor. Globally jewellery companies lay a huge emphasis on the aspect of skill enhancement. Apparently premier brand Tiffany’s spends on training and skill enhancement is much more than its counterparts, which results in 60 per cent higher sales figures for the company.
When it comes to India, the jewellery retail market here offers significant opportunities for retailers and brands, driven by factors such as a large consumer base, rising incomes and job opportunities, increasing consumer awareness, etc. A jeweller can remain competitive by constantly building new skills and transforming or upgrading existing skills of his employees through appropriate skill development training programmes.
Skill development in GJ trade:the present scenario
Human resource is one of the critical factors for the gems and jewellery industry, as the industry is labour-centric. Non-availability of skilled workers is often cited as one of the major reasons for the inability of the players in this industry to scale up their operations.
The gem and jewellery sector presently employs about 3.4 million people. Organisations and trade bodies like National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) are continuously working towards enhancing skill quotient in the industry. NSDC targets to create 500 million skilled workers by 2022. Rajiv Jain, chairman of GJEPC says, “The industry requires about one lakh skilled artisans in next five years.”
