August 30, 2025

Kerala’s workforce is booming like never before! A fresh LinkedIn Talent Insights report dropped at the Skill Kerala Global Summit reveals a jaw-dropping 172% jump in the State’s professional talent over the past five years. Sitting proudly at 9th among Indian states, Kerala’s workforce is bustling, especially in the cities of Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode, which together hold nearly 40% of the talent pool. So, who are the big players here? The report shows software engineers, accountants, and teachers stealing the spotlight. This lively mix of technology, finance, and education forms Kerala’s strong economic backbone. One spicy fact is the massive influx of skilled professionals returning home from abroad, especially from the Gulf countries. A cool 52% of Kerala’s global returnees are from the UAE alone! These experts bring big skills in business operations, finance, and entrepreneurship – power-packed knowledge for Kerala’s growth. Regional migration adds more flavor. Talent coming from Karnataka boosts Kerala’s innovation game, especially in product management, research, and education. Skill development? Kerala’s hitting it hard! With initiatives like the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and the Knowledge Economy Mission, the state has doubled participation in digital and professional training in just two years. Hot skills like artificial intelligence, data analysis, and financial planning are topping the charts. The report warns, "39% of core job skills will change or become obsolete by 2030," making re-skilling a must-have for every professional. Kerala also matches India’s top employers, shining in IT services, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. But it’s ready to explore even more fields like biotechnology, automation, and advanced analytics. Here’s an exciting number: women make up 37% of Kerala’s workforce, beating the national average of 30%! A sign of real progress towards gender balance. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state is on a mission "to transform into a knowledge-based innovative society," pushing ahead with digital literacy and inclusive growth. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal called the talent report "an economic roadmap" opening a window into Kerala’s human capital. K.M. Abraham, Executive Vice Chairman of K-DISC, praised the report as a big step to align youth skills with the modern job market, making higher education more market-smart. LinkedIn India’s head, Kumaresh Pattabiraman, expressed happiness working with Kerala’s government on skill-building and hopes the report helps prepare a strong and skilled workforce. With all this energy and smart planning, Kerala’s workforce is set to rocket into a bright, digital future!

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Tags: Kerala workforce, Linkedin talent insights, Skill development, Global returnees, Digital training, Female workforce,