Adapt to AI, Continuously Upgrade Skills to Stay Employable: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday urged young people to continuously upgrade their skills and embrace emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), saying that while technological advancements may disrupt some traditional jobs, they will also create new employment opportunities.

Addressing a Mega Job Fair organised by the Goa government in Panaji, Sawant encouraged youth to view AI as an opportunity rather than a threat.

"In the 21st century and the era of AI, some jobs may be affected, but people must learn AI and adapt to new opportunities. We have to continue learning and upgrading ourselves," he said.

The chief minister advised job seekers not to rely solely on government employment and instead explore opportunities across the private sector, where industries are increasingly seeking candidates with specialised and industry-relevant skills.

More than 150 companies participated in the job fair, collectively offering over 5,000 vacancies across sectors such as aviation, healthcare, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, automobiles, construction, information technology, telecommunications, banking, financial services, electronics and e-commerce.

According to Sawant, over 10,000 youth had registered for the event, with around 1,500 candidates attending interviews by Sunday afternoon. He said the remaining participants were expected to visit the fair throughout the day.

Highlighting the changing nature of the job market, the chief minister noted that most vacancies on offer were white-collar positions requiring specialised competencies. He encouraged young people to pursue short-term certification programmes and additional qualifications to improve their employability.

"We should take up short-term courses or upgrade our educational qualifications to avail of new employment opportunities," he said.

Sawant also highlighted the state's ongoing efforts to support employment generation and workforce development. He said the Goa government has organised 12 job fairs so far, helping more than 2,000 young people secure jobs. Additionally, the placement centre operated by the Labour and Employment Department has facilitated employment for over 800 candidates.

The remarks come amid growing discussions on the impact of AI and automation on the workforce, with policymakers increasingly emphasising lifelong learning and skill development as key to future employment.