Degrees vs Skills: A New Roadmap for Nepali Youth

Degrees Have Stopped Selling, Learn Skills Instead

(Degrees Are No Longer Selling, Learn Skills Now: The New Roadmap for Career and Success in the 21st Century)

In a busy tea shop in Kathmandu, two young people were talking. One said, “It has been two years since I completed my MBA, and it is difficult even to get a job paying 40,000.” The other replied, “My younger brother has only passed Grade 10, but he knows video editing and graphics. He earns 100,000 a month working from home.”

This is not just idle talk in a tea shop; it is the stark reality of today’s Nepal and the wider world.

For decades, our society has taught us the same line: “Study well, get a big degree, and your life will be secure.” Our parents tightened their belts to send us to expensive colleges. We crammed day and night for certificates. But when we take that certificate into the labor market, we discover that the market does not demand a piece of paper; it demands skills in our hands.

Today we see a contradictory situation where a gold medalist from Tribhuvan University has to remain unemployed, while a plumber or electrician with basic schooling is so busy that it is hard to even get an appointment. Why is this happening? Has education lost its importance? Or have we misunderstood the very definition of “education”?

In this detailed article, we will unpack the conflict between degrees and skills (Degree vs Skills), identify the root of the problem, and point towards practical solutions for Nepali youth.

Why Degrees Are Becoming Weaker (The Devaluation of Degrees)

There was a time when a person who had completed a bachelor’s degree was welcomed in the village with music and celebration. Degrees were rare then. According to the basic rule of economics, whatever is rare carries higher value.

But today the situation has changed.

1. Degree Inflation

Today, having a bachelor’s or master’s degree is no longer “special.” It has become only a minimum requirement. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students graduate in Nepal. When everyone holds a degree, how are employers supposed to select based on degrees alone? A degree is no longer enough to stand out in the crowd.

2. The Gap Between Curriculum and Market (The Academia–Industry Gap)

The biggest irony of Nepal’s education system is that we are living in 2025, but many of our curricula still belong to the 1990s.

A management student is still studying old bookkeeping systems while the market demands QuickBooks and Data Analytics.

An engineering student is memorizing facts about old engines while the market has already moved towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) and AI Automation.

What universities teach is not what the market needs; and what the market needs is not what universities teach. Caught in this gap, hundreds of thousands of young people are becoming “educated unemployed.”

3. The Democratization of Information

In the past, one had to go to college to access knowledge. Only professors had information. Today, because of Google, YouTube, and AI, it is possible to study courses from Harvard and MIT at home for free.

When the monopoly over knowledge broke, the “premium value” of a college degree also decreased.

Why Skills Are the New Currency

Major global companies such as Google, Tesla, Apple, and IBM are removing “Degree Required” from their job advertisements. They say, “We do not care whether you went to college or not. Show us whether you can do this work or not.”

This global wave has already entered Nepal.

1. The Employer’s Perspective

Imagine yourself as an employer. You need to get your company’s website built.

• Candidate A: Has a master’s degree in computer science but cannot code well and only knows theory.

• Candidate B: Has only passed Grade 12 but shows a portfolio of 10 excellent websites built over the last three years.

Whom will you hire? You will naturally choose Candidate B, because in business what matters is results, not certificates.

2. Immediate Return on Investment (ROI)

Skill-based work provides immediate returns. Studying a four-year BBS requires hundreds of thousands in fees and thousands of hours of time. But if the same student invests only 10% of that time and money in a six-month barista training or a graphic design course, the earning can start immediately.

In a country like Nepal, which faces economic contraction, skills stand far ahead in terms of Return on Investment (ROI).

3. The Impact of AI and Automation

ChatGPT and other AI tools are displacing many white-collar jobs. Tasks such as writing routine reports or doing data entry, which were done by degree-holding employees, are now being done by AI.

But AI cannot easily replace human skills such as wiring electrical circuits, caring for patients, or creatively solving complex problems.

Three Types of Skills Nepali Students Must Learn

When we talk about “skills,” we need to classify them clearly. Not everyone has to learn coding. Here are three categories of skills that are in high demand in the Nepali context:

A. Technical and Digital Skills (Hard/Digital Skills)

Today this is the field where one can earn money the fastest. One does not always have to go to an office; it is possible to earn foreign currency while staying in Nepal.

1. Coding and No-Code Development: Building websites, apps, or software. If coding feels difficult, learn no-code tools such as Webflow or WordPress.

2. Digital Marketing and SEO: Every shop now needs online promotion. There is high demand for Facebook boosting, Google Ads, and content writing.

3. Data Analytics: Those who know Excel, Power BI, and Python are among the top choices for corporate houses.

4. Video Editing and Graphics: In the age of YouTube, TikTok, and Reels, people who know video editing hardly ever have to remain unemployed.

B. Vocational and Hands-On Skills

This is the most underrated field in Nepal, yet it offers both high income and security. Because our society respects only “desk jobs,” this sector is dominated by Indian workers. We need to break this mindset.

1. Construction-Related Skills: Plumbing, electrical work, welding, and carpentry. It is difficult to find a plumber in Kathmandu who does not charge 1,000 for a single visit. With these skills, one can also earn well in countries like Australia, Canada, and in the Gulf.

2. Hospitality and Culinary Skills: Chef, bakery, barista, and housekeeping. In a tourism-based country like ours, demand in this sector never declines.

3. Beauty and Fashion: Hair styling, makeup artistry, and tailoring. This field has unlimited possibilities for self-employment.

4. Automobile Maintenance: In particular, there will be a huge demand for mechanics who can repair Electric Vehicles (EVs).

C. Practical and Soft Skills

Whether you are a doctor or a plumber, if you lack communication skills, you will fall behind. According to one study from Harvard University, 85% of career success depends on soft skills.

1. Communication: The ability to express yourself clearly and genuinely listen to others.

2. Sales and Negotiation: The ability to “sell” yourself, your product, or your idea.

3. Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The capacity to work with people, collaborate in teams, and show leadership.

4. Adaptability: The ability to adjust yourself according to changing times.

How to Balance Degrees and Skills

Does this mean “drop out of college”? No.

The intention of this article is not to discard degrees, but to discard blind dependency on degrees. If a degree is a “license,” then skill is the “ability to drive the vehicle.”

Having a license does not automatically mean you can drive well, but you still need a license to be on the road—especially for government jobs or studying abroad.

The strategy of a smart student should be:

• Treat the degree as “backup”: Go to college and complete your studies. This will provide discipline, a network, and a basic level of recognition.

• Give priority to skills: Devote three to four hours a day to your college studies, but spend the remaining time learning at least one marketable skill.

• Use vacations wisely: Instead of spending the semester break only on travel, do a one-month internship or join a boot camp.

How to Learn (A Practical Action Plan)

You can start from wherever you are. It is not necessary to join expensive institutes.

Step 1: Self-Assessment

Ask yourself: “What do I enjoy doing?” and “What is in demand in the market?” If you like computers, choose coding. If you enjoy talking to people, choose sales or HR. If you prefer hands-on activities, choose technical training.

Step 2: Finding Resources

• Free: YouTube is the largest school in the world. Watch Khan Academy, FreeCodeCamp, or Nepali channels.

• Online Courses: Through Coursera, Udemy, and EdX, you can take world-class courses by paying a small fee or by using financial aid.

• Government Training in Nepal: CTEVT (Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training) offers affordable and quality technical training across the country. Make good use of it.

Step 3: Practice and Portfolio

It is not enough just to learn.

• If you are a designer, create five logos for free.

• If you are a writer, write 10 blog posts.

• Create a showcase of your work. When you ask for a job in the future, saying “I can do this” is far less effective than saying “I have already done this—please take a look.”

Step 4: Mentorship and Networking

Connect with people who are already successful in your field. Be active on LinkedIn. Ask them, “What do I need to improve?”

A Message for Parents

This section is especially for Nepali parents, because the key to children’s future lies largely in their hands.

Respected fathers and mothers,

If your son or daughter says, “I want to become a plumber,” or “I want to edit YouTube videos,” please do not be upset. Do not pressure them by saying, “So-and-so’s son is a bank manager, and you want to be a mechanic?”

What you must understand is that bank teller jobs are being displaced by AI, but the demand for good mechanics will continue for the next 50 years.

In countries like Australia or the United States, those who do blue-collar (skill-based) work often earn more per hour than those in white-collar jobs. Respect does not lie in the nature of the work itself, but in the honesty towards that work and the financial freedom it provides.

Instead of loading children with degrees and leaving them unemployed, the real need today is to equip their hands with skills and make them self-reliant. Respect their interests.

Gig Economy and Freelancing in the Nepali Context

Nepal is landlocked, but the internet has connected us to the world. On platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer, thousands of Nepali youth are earning between 100,000 and 500,000 rupees a month.

Why is this important?

1. Income in Foreign Currency: At a time when the Nepali rupee is depreciating, earning foreign currency benefits both the individual and the country.

2. Freedom: There is no compulsion to work a 9-to-5 job.

3. Equal Opportunity: No one asks your caste, religion, gender, or college name. If your work is good, you get paid well.

If you have a laptop and an internet connection, you can sit by Rara Lake in Mugu and design for a client in New York. That is the power of skills.

Challenges and Caution

There are challenges on the path of learning skills as well.

Lack of Patience

It takes time to acquire skills. Many young people give up when they do not see results in two weeks. Do not forget the saying that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert.

Beware of Scams

Do not fall into traps like “Become rich in two days” or “Earn money from home doing data entry.” Real skills require effort. Those who look for shortcuts are the ones who get cheated.

Certification

For some professions (such as nursing, engineering, and chartered accountancy), degrees and licenses are mandatory. There are no shortcuts in these fields. This article is not about professions where a degree is legally required.

Conclusion

Times are changing. Yesterday’s “safe zone” has become today’s “danger zone.” Relying only on a degree is like trying to cross the ocean in a broken boat.

Nepali youth now need to rise above the mindset of “Give me a job” and develop the confidence to say, “I can solve this problem, so give me work.”

If you are under 25, you have nothing to lose. Invest six months to learn a new skill. Hang your degree on the wall, but let skills flow through your veins.

In the end:
Instead of only blaming the government for not creating jobs, build such skills in your own hands that the government, the private sector, and foreign companies are compelled to look for you.

Are you ready? Let go of the pride attached to your degree and start, from today, as a learner. The future belongs to those who are capable.