Ayodhya to create 15% surge in civil engineering jobs riding on Ram Mandir growth wave

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration will also be keenly watched and followed by billions of Indians in other parts of the country as well and to mark the occasion, institutions across India have announced a holiday or a half-day on Monday, January 22.

Civil engineers are soon likely to make a kill for Ayodhya as the city will throw up at least a 15 percent surge in demand for construction jobs at various levels over the next two years, staffing companies told Moneycontrol.

The construction of the Ram Mandir has unleashed a wave of economic growth in this once-languid city of mythological importance and made its departure from being a hub of coaching centres to emerge as a bustling tourism centre.

Read: Ayodhya’s metamorphosis: From a hub of coaching centres to a thriving city

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Ayodhya Ram Temple today, industry leaders anticipate a three-fold jump in construction activities majorly concentrated around shopping hubs, hotels and restaurants, among others.

Staffing firm CIEL HR noticed that around 22 percent of the overall jobs are related to engineering with civil engineering jobs being those of MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) managers, execution amenity engineers, site supervisors, and site engineers.

“Museums, art galleries, performance spaces, and heritage sites are also likely to be developed in Ayodhya. This will create job opportunities for architects, designers, and construction workers involved in these projects,” said Santhosh Nair, director and chief operating officer at CIEL HR.

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Ayodhya has a geographical expanse of about 120 sq km with a population of around 80,000. Noting that today’s Ram temple inauguration has attracted huge national and global publicity, industry leaders anticipate the site might become the largest tourist attraction in India.

“There will be an obvious increase in demand for engineers, particularly civil and electrical as there will be a massive increase in the construction of hotels of all categories as it is expected that small, budget as well as starred hotels are all in plans to come up in Ayodhya, in the development process of which, civil and electrical engineers will be in high demand. In my view, at least a 10-15 percent increase in demand for engineers is expected,” said R P Yadav, chairman and managing director at Genius Consultants.

Hospitality jobs

The inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is expected to have a significant impact on the demand for skilled labour in the city. The influx of tourists and development projects will require skilled labour across various sectors, including hospitality, travel, food and beverages.

According to TeamLease Services VP Balasubramanian A, future growth is expected to be higher, potentially reaching 30,000-50,000 jobs depending on tourism growth and infrastructure development. “The retail sector is also expected to see growth, as new businesses open to cater to the needs of the growing population,” he said.

Read: Ayodhya's hospitality sector anticipates historic surge post-Pran Pratishtha ceremony

Industry experts say the cultural and religious significance of Ayodhya will lead to a rise in employment opportunities within the local arts, crafts, and cultural sectors.

This could include traditional artisans, performers, and individuals skilled in heritage conservation.

Around 30,000 increase in employment within these sectors is contingent on the extent of cultural initiatives and programs implemented by local authorities in the next year, said Nilesh Dungarwal, co-founder and CEO of WorkIndia.

However, Dungarwal pointed out that Ayodhya may face some challenges in meeting the increased demand for skilled professionals.

“Though traditionally, blue-collar workers are open to migrating for job opportunities, we expect more incoming blue and grey-collar workers moving to Ayodhya,” he said.

Highlighting the gap between demand and the existing skilled workforce, Balasubramanian suggested local vocational training and skill development programs are crucial to bridge the gap.