The Punjab government has launched an ambitious six-year initiative to train nearly 90,000 students by 2029 under the Improving Workforce Readiness in Punjab Project, aiming to strengthen technical education and better align workforce skills with the needs of modern industries.
The project, which began in 2023 and will continue through 2029, seeks to bridge the gap between technical and vocational education and labor market demand by upgrading training institutions, introducing industry-led courses, and modernizing workforce planning across the province.
Technical institutes to become Centers of Excellence
According to project documents, a central component of the initiative is the transformation of 19 technical and vocational training institutes into Centers of Excellence.
The institutions include:
- 16 institutes managed by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA)
- 3 institutes operated by the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC)
The upgraded facilities will provide specialized, competency-based training designed in collaboration with industry to improve graduates’ employability and meet evolving workforce requirements.
Training to focus on eight high-growth sectors
The project will introduce market-oriented programs in eight sectors identified as critical to Punjab’s long-term economic growth:
- Automotive
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- Tourism
- Food Processing
- Textile
- Construction
- Healthcare
- Light Engineering
Officials believe these industries offer significant employment opportunities and require a steady supply of skilled workers to support continued expansion.
Competency-based education to improve employability
The government plans to replace traditional classroom-focused instruction with competency-based technical training that emphasizes practical skills and workplace readiness.
By aligning training with employer requirements, the initiative aims to improve employment outcomes for young people while helping businesses access a more qualified workforce.
The training programs will be developed using a comprehensive skills mapping study to ensure they reflect current and future labor market needs.
Modern labor market information system
In addition to upgrading institutions, the project will modernize Punjab’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) management system and strengthen the Labor Market Information System (LMIS).
The enhanced system will:
- Collect reliable labor market data
- Identify current and future skills shortages
- Support evidence-based policymaking
- Help training providers regularly update curricula
- Improve workforce planning across key industries
Officials say the reforms will enable education providers and employers to respond more quickly to changing economic and technological demands.
Supporting Punjab’s economic growth
Punjab’s growing industrial and services sectors continue to require skilled professionals in information technology, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, textiles, and food processing.
The government believes the Workforce Readiness Project will help close existing skills gaps, strengthen technical education, increase youth employability, and improve the province’s long-term economic competitiveness by building a highly skilled and future-ready workforce.
