Kerala’s professional talent pool has grown by 172% over the last five years, according to a new LinkedIn Talent Insights report that was made public on Friday by the state government’s advisory body, the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council. The results were showcased in Kochi during the Skill Kerala Global Summit.
Kerala now ranks tenth among Indian states, according to K-DISC, with approximately 40% of its workforce based in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kozhikode. The advisory council said in a statement that “the most common roles among professionals are software engineers, accountants, and teachers, reflecting technology, finance, and education as the backbone of Kerala’s economy.”
According to the survey, there is a notable influx of highly qualified people coming back from outside, especially from the Gulf. Approximately 52% of Kerala’s international returnees were from the United Arab Emirates, contributing knowledge of finance, entrepreneurship, and commercial operations. With an increase in inflows into product management, research, and education, regional migration—led by Karnataka—has also bolstered Kerala’s skill pool for innovation and technology, according to K-DISC. Over the last two years, the number of people taking part in professional and digital training has doubled, and new skills like financial planning, data analysis, and artificial intelligence are becoming more and more popular.
Additionally, by 2030, 39% of basic work skills may alter or become obsolete, according to the research, underscoring the need for reskilling initiatives. Kerala has unrealised potential in biotechnology, automation, and advanced analytics, and its talent pool complements India’s top recruiting industries, which include manufacturing, IT services, finance, and healthcare.
Another encouraging aspect is gender representation, as women make up 37% of the workforce, higher than the 30% national average. The largest category consists of mid- to senior-level professionals, demonstrating maturity and preparedness for global competitiveness, according to the survey. Speaking during the summit, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was cited as saying that the state wants to become a knowledge-based, creative society that encourages digital literacy and inclusive development.
The report, according to Finance Minister K N Balagopal, is an economic blueprint that provides insights into Kerala’s human resource. The report was hailed as a major milestone in bringing Kerala’s young into line with the demands of the contemporary workforce by K M Abraham, Executive Vice Chairman of K-DISC.
According to the announcement, he said the analysis offers data-driven insights into the state’s talent pool and will assist universities in adapting to the changing labour market. LinkedIn India’s head, Kumaresh Pattabiraman, praised the partnership with the Kerala government on talent development. According to the release, he said the research will help the state further its goal of developing a workforce that is competitive and skilled.