Skills gap refers to the critical disparity between the skills required by the industry and those possessed by the available workforce.
It represents a structural mismatch in the labor market, often exacerbated by rapid technological change, such as Industry 4.0 and the integration of AI.
For the manufacturing sector, this translates into an acute shortage of workers proficient in data analytics, automation, and advanced engineering, hindering productivity and innovation. Closing this gap requires proactive collaboration between educational institutions, government, and industry to implement targeted upskilling and reskilling programs that align workforce capabilities with future economic needs.