Jaishankar made the remarks while inaugurating the two-day Human Resource Mobility Forum, an event designed to promote legal pathways for international migration and facilitate networking between foreign employers and Indian professionals seeking employment opportunities abroad. Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia are the focus countries participating in the forum.
Highlighting the changing nature of global employment, the minister said advances in artificial intelligence and automation are expected to transform labour markets by significantly altering existing occupations while creating entirely new categories of jobs. At the same time, the transition towards a green economy will generate demand for new skills across multiple sectors. He added that conventional fields will continue to require skilled professionals, particularly healthcare and caregiving services, as several countries face ageing populations.
Emphasising the need for long-term planning, Jaishankar said these developments require governments, industry, educational institutions and international organisations to collaborate more closely than ever before. He said effective mechanisms must be developed to anticipate future workforce requirements and ensure that workers are prepared not only for current opportunities but also for the demands of the future.
The minister also underlined the importance of continuous learning, regular skill adaptation and greater international recognition of professional qualifications and competencies. According to him, such measures are essential to ensure that Indian professionals remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic global employment landscape.
Describing human resources as a critical driver of economic development, Jaishankar said access to skilled and adaptable talent is essential for sustaining economic growth and fostering innovation. He stated that talent mobility is not merely the movement of people across borders but also the process of connecting skilled workers with global demand and creating opportunities that contribute to economic growth and social well-being.
Jaishankar further revealed that India has already signed 28 migration and mobility partnership agreements with 26 countries to promote safe and legal migration, while negotiations for several additional agreements are currently underway. He stressed that countries also share a collective responsibility to combat illegal migration, exploitative practices, fraudulent intermediaries and human trafficking.
Highlighting the role of technology in migration governance, the minister said digital systems have transformed administrative processes, noting that more than five million emigration clearances have been issued since the launch of the eMigrate platform.
He described the Human Resource Mobility Forum as an important platform that brings together policymakers, industry leaders and employers to exchange experiences, explore new approaches and strengthen international cooperation in workforce mobility.
Speaking at the event, Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary heading the Consular, Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, said human resource mobility has become a defining feature of an interconnected world by linking talent with opportunity and addressing workforce challenges across countries.
She said India has emerged as a trusted partner in meeting global demand for skilled professionals. As many countries experience demographic transitions and growing shortages of skilled workers, India sees significant opportunities to build demand-driven mobility partnerships that benefit employees, employers and national economies alike.
The forum underscores India's growing role in supplying skilled talent to the global workforce while reinforcing the country's commitment to safe, legal and technology-driven migration. It also highlights the increasing importance of preparing Indian professionals with future-ready skills to meet the changing demands of an economy increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence, automation and global demographic shifts.
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