Potential of Social Innovation in Addressing the Jobs and Skills Mismatch in Haryana

Abstract

Skills mismatch—the persistent misalignment between workers' competencies and labor market demands—has intensified in contemporary economies due to rapid technological change, automation, digitalization, and structural shifts, resulting in unemployment, underemployment, productivity losses, and widening inequality. Traditional education and training systems often fail to adapt swiftly to evolving needs, necessitating innovative, inclusive approaches beyond conventional programs.

This paper examines the role of social innovation—novel, collaborative solutions prioritizing social value, inclusion, and empowerment in mitigating jobs and skills mismatches, with a specific focus on Haryana. Employing a mixed-methods review, the study combines bibliometric analysis (124 Scopus-indexed documents, 1997–2025) using Biblioshiny to map trends, influential works, and thematic evolution, with a systematic literature review (SLR) following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol (28 high-impact studies screened from initial 100+ sources). The SLR synthesizes conceptual, empirical, economic, and policy evidence demonstrating social innovation's potential through reskilling initiatives, grassroots training, social enterprises, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and adaptive models that counter automation-induced displacement while promoting equity and sustainability.

Our findings confirm social innovation as a flexible, bottom-up mechanism for bridging mismatches, particularly for vulnerable groups, informal sectors, and transition economies. Building on this evidence, the paper proposes the Collaborative Skill Ecosystems Framework (CSEF) for Haryana, centered on a Haryana Skill Innovation Hub (HSIH) that integrates government, industry, academia, NGOs, communities, and social entrepreneurs in iterative processes of needs assessment, piloting (e.g., rural Kurukshetra and urban Gurugram), scaling, evaluation, and feedback.

The framework offers practical strategies for enhancing employability, fostering inclusive growth, and stimulating entrepreneurial activity in Haryana's diverse rural-urban landscape. Challenges in scaling and measurement persist, underscoring the need for empirical validation and policy integration.