Education-Skills Integration Key to Professionalising Jewellery Industry: Experts

Speaking on the sidelines of an industry event in Kolkata, experts said artisans continue to form the backbone of the jewellery industry, but the sector is increasingly struggling to attract younger people to craftsmanship as a career.

They suggested that connecting jewellery-making skills with recognised academic qualifications and professional certifications could help improve the appeal of the industry among students and young professionals.

Vinod Bamalwa, Director of Nemichand Bamalwa & Sons and Chairman of the National Expert Committee on Jewellery and Lifestyle at the Indian Chamber of Commerce, said the industry was facing a shortage of young artisans as fewer people were opting for jewellery craftsmanship as a profession.

He attributed part of the challenge to the limited formal recognition of jewellery-making as a structured vocational education pathway. Integrating technical jewellery skills with degree and certification programmes, he said, could raise the profile of the profession and encourage more young people to enter the field.

Bamalwa said discussions were also underway to introduce jewellery manufacturing and related technical subjects at the school level, with the industry expected to contribute to the design and implementation of such programmes.

He added that industry stakeholders were willing to work with the government to develop a stronger pipeline of skilled talent for the sector.

Subhankar Sen, Co-Chairman of the ICC National Expert Committee on Jewellery and Lifestyle and Managing Director and CEO of Senco Gold & Diamonds, highlighted West Bengal's longstanding role as a centre of jewellery craftsmanship.

He said artisans from the state have contributed to jewellery hubs across India, including Mumbai, Surat and several centres in southern India.

According to Sen, jewellery education should extend beyond craftsmanship to include subjects such as metallurgy, marketing, sales techniques and product management. Introducing these areas at the school and college levels could create new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.

Sen stressed that combining formal education with hands-on skill development would be important for transforming the jewellery sector into a more organised and professionally managed industry while ensuring that traditional expertise is passed on to future generations.