THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – The long-standing trend of skilled professionals, particularly in the IT sector, migrating from Kerala to metropolises like Bangalore continues to be a significant concern for the state. This demographic shift, driven by perceived better opportunities and higher wages, prompts calls for strategic interventions to retain Kerala's educated workforce. A recent social media post by user Rishi highlighted this sentiment, stating, > "Kerala can't keep losing talent to Bangalore. Metropolises are very important."
Historically, Bangalore's emergence as India's "Silicon Valley" has attracted a substantial influx of talent from across the country, including a significant portion from Kerala. Data from the 2011 Census indicated that migrants constituted over 50% of Bangalore's population, with Kerala being a notable source. The allure of the "Bangalore Days" dream, characterized by robust IT job markets and career advancement, has consistently drawn young professionals from Kerala.
The primary drivers for this migration from Kerala include a perceived shortage of professional and skilled job opportunities within the state, coupled with the prospect of higher remuneration and diverse career growth in Bangalore's thriving tech ecosystem. Studies have pointed to a mismatch between the high educational attainment of Kerala's youth and the availability of suitable employment that aligns with their skills and aspirations. This has led to a "brain drain" phenomenon, despite Kerala's high Human Development Index.
In response to this challenge, the Kerala government has launched several initiatives aimed at fostering a robust knowledge economy and retaining its talent pool. The Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM), an initiative by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), seeks to train 3 million individuals and create 2 million jobs by 2026. This program, in partnership with platforms like Coursera, focuses on equipping youth with industry-relevant skills.
Additionally, programs like ASAP Kerala (Additional Skill Acquisition Programme) concentrate on upskilling the workforce and enhancing employability through demand-based and industry-led training. The state is also actively promoting its startup ecosystem and investing in world-class IT parks to create a conducive environment for innovation and employment. These efforts aim to reverse the migration trend by providing compelling opportunities within Kerala itself, transforming it into a knowledge-based society.