2023-05-24-亚开行-通过中亚和西亚高增长产业的技能发展来驾驭第四次工业革命_103页_1mb

HARNESSING THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH-GROWTH INDUSTRIES IN CENTRAL AND WEST ASIA — PAKISTAN

Economy Overview

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) presents significant opportunities for economic growth and job creation in Pakistan through the adoption of technologies like AI, IoT, and Big Data. These technologies are set to enhance productivity in industries such as textiles and IT-BPO, potentially leading to net employment gains. For example, a 11% increase in jobs is projected in the textile sector by 2025.

• Economic Impact: 4IR can create up to 390,000 net new jobs in the textile industry and 7,000 in IT-BPO, over and above business-as-usual growth.
• Gaps: Firms and workers in Pakistan have a limited understanding of 4IR technologies. Many workers lack foundational skills to meet evolving demands, exacerbated by low female workforce participation and high illiteracy rates (39% of the population).

Textile and Garment Manufacturing Industry

The textile sector is the largest employer in Pakistan, contributing 7.8% to national employment. 4IR adoption could significantly improve productivity but faces challenges in preparing the workforce.

Key Challenges

• Technological Understanding: Only 35% of manufacturers understand 4IR technologies well.
• Job Transformation: Manual jobs make up 40.6% of the workforce (2020) and are expected to drop to 36.6% by 2025, while technical roles increase from 28.9% to 31.2%.
• Gender Inequality: Female workers comprise only ~33% of the workforce and are less likely to benefit from 4IR job gains.

Skill Requirements

• Digital/ICT skills will become more valued, while soft skills like verbal communication may diminish in importance.
• Critical thinking and adaptive learning skills are critical gaps requiring upskilling.

Information Technology–Business Process Outsourcing Industry

The IT-BPO industry in Pakistan recorded 6.5% average employment growth between 2013–2018. 4IR offers substantial productivity gains but requires proactive skill development.

Key Challenges

• Gender Gap: Net job gains for male workers will be 9.6x higher than female workers by 2025.
• Skill Demand Shift: Creative thinking and complex problem-solving will be in higher demand.
• Technological Adoption: Training institutions offer limited courses on emerging technologies like AI or AR/VR.

Key Recommendations

1. Develop 4IR Adoption Road Maps: Create industry-specific strategies in collaboration with trade associations to address awareness gaps and deployment plans for 4IR technologies.
2. Develop Innovative Job-Matching Initiatives: Leverage AI and Big Data technologies to match workers’ skills with industry needs through platforms like those used in Singapore and India.
3. Strengthen Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Adopt inclusive frameworks such as Malaysia’s Skills Certification Program to help illiterate and low-skill workers transition into technical roles.
4. Promote 4IR Technologies in Knowledge Delivery: Utilize AR/VR and AI-powered learning tools, with pilot programs in TVET institutions following models like Indonesia's "teaching factories."
5. Strengthen Relevance of Apprenticeships and Internships: Harmonize industry standards and assessments, drawing from the UK and Singapore.
6. Adopt Inclusive 4IR Reskilling Policies: Targeted initiatives for women, building on examples from Indonesia and Cambodia to address workforce barriers.
7. Ensure Responsiveness of Education Systems: Regularly review curricula (e.g., South Korea’s model) to integrate 21st-century skills required by 4IR technologies.

ADB urges multidisciplinary collaboration to maximize 4IR benefits while ensuring equitable and inclusive economic growth.

Consultations and data collection involved employers, training institutions, and government agencies across Pakistan, with initiatives designed to bridge existing skill gaps and foster sustainable progress in the digital economy.