High-Income Skills for Nepali Youth (With or Without Degree)

High-Income Skills for Nepali Youth (With or Without Degree)

If we look deeply at Nepal’s current context, we are in a contradictory situation. On one side, thousands of young people are leaving the country daily from Tribhuvan International Airport saying there are no jobs in the market. On the other side, employers in Nepal are complaining, “We are not finding the kind of skilled manpower we need.”

My two decades of study and experience show that the problem is not the absence of a “degree” (academic certificate). The problem is the absence of “skill.” Our traditional education system gave us certificates, but could not provide practical knowledge that sells in the market. Today’s world has already moved from the “Information Age” into the “Skill Age.” Not only companies like Google, Apple, and Tesla, but also reputed IT companies and corporate houses in Nepal have started asking not just, “What degree do you have?” but, “What can you do?”

The main purpose of this article is to inform Nepali youth about skills that can enable them to earn a respectable and high income while staying in Nepal or from anywhere in the world. The skills discussed here do not necessarily require a university degree. Strong determination and the right guidance can be enough.

Table of Content

1. High-Income Skills for Nepali Youth (With or Without Degree)
2. Technical and Digital Skills (Tech & Digital Skills)
3. Creative and Marketing Skills (Creative & Marketing Skills)
4. Degree-Not-Required but High Technical Skills (Vocational & Technical Skills)
5. Soft Skills (Soft Skills) - The Key to Success
6. How to Start? (A Practical Roadmap)
7. Conclusion

Technical and Digital Skills (Tech & Digital Skills)

This is the digital era. If you have access to a computer and the internet, your office can extend across the world.

a) Software Development and Coding (Software Development & Coding)

Nepal currently has hundreds of IT companies such as Leapfrog, Cotiviti, and Fusemachines that work on American and European projects. There are figures showing that the starting salary of software engineers here begins at around 50,000 rupees per month, and as experience grows, it can reach 300,000 to 500,000 rupees.

What to learn?: Python, JavaScript, React, or Flutter.

For whom?: Those who enjoy logical problem solving.

Is a degree required?: A computer science degree is helpful, but not mandatory. Some engineers at Google and Facebook are self-taught.

Sources: Coursera, freeCodeCamp, or IT training centers in Nepal.

b) Data Analytics (Data Analytics & Science)

“Data is the new oil.” Today, every company, bank, and government body has piles of data, but there is a shortage of people who can understand it and make decisions from it.

Nature of work: Planning for the future based on data, understanding market trends.

Required skills: Microsoft Excel (Advanced), SQL, PowerBI, and for a higher level, Python.

Earnings: In Nepal, data analysts can earn 40,000 to 150,000 rupees per month. In freelancing, the rate is above 20 dollars per hour.

c) Cybersecurity (Cybersecurity)

As the use of digital payments (eSewa, Khalti, Mobile Banking) has increased in Nepal, the risks of hacking and data theft have also grown. Banks and financial institutions have started paying substantial amounts to retain ethical hackers and security experts for protection.

Future: There is an extreme shortage of manpower in this field (Supply < Demand), which is why salaries are high.

Creative and Marketing Skills (Creative & Marketing Skills)

If coding feels difficult but you are creative, this field can be a gold mine for you.

a) Digital Marketing and SEO (Digital Marketing & SEO)

Today, every shop, restaurant, and college wants visibility on Facebook, Instagram, and Google. Since digital advertising is cheaper and more effective than traditional advertising (newspaper/radio), demand is high.

Key skills:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The art of bringing a website to the top of Google.

• Social Media Marketing: Facebook/TikTok boosting and branding.

• Content Marketing: Writing blogs or posts that attract people.

Earnings: By running an agency or freelancing, one can earn from 50,000 rupees per month to much more.

b) Video Editing and Motion Graphics (Video Editing & Motion Graphics)

In the era of YouTube, TikTok, and Reels, demand for video editors has increased unimaginably. There are plenty of examples of skilled video editors earning 100,000 to 200,000 rupees per month by working for foreign YouTubers or companies while staying in Nepal.

Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, DaVinci Resolve.

Tip: Do not learn only basic cut-paste. Learn storytelling.

c) UI/UX Design (UI/UX Design)

UI/UX designers determine how a website or mobile app looks and how easy it is to use. This is a higher-level skill than graphic design and can offer better earnings.

Degree-Not-Required but High Technical Skills (Vocational & Technical Skills)

There is a wrong belief in Nepal that “blue-collar work is small.” But in reality, many Nepalis going to Australia or America are getting PR by studying plumbing or cookery there. Even in Nepal, people with these skills often earn more than those with degrees.

a) Mobile and Electronics Repair (Device Repair)

Everyone has a 50,000-rupee mobile in their hand, but when it breaks, there is a shortage of skilled technicians who can repair it. This skill takes 3 to 6 months to learn.

Earnings: A skilled mobile technician can easily save 2,000 to 3,000 per day (60,000 to 90,000 per month). No degree is needed, only hands-on skill.

b) Barista and Culinary Arts (Barista & Culinary Arts)

Cafe culture has grown in major cities of Nepal. The salary of a skilled barista or chef is not lower than that of a government officer.

Benefit: With this skill, you can get a good salary in Nepal and find work more easily abroad.

c) Modern High-Value Agriculture (High-Value Agriculture)

This is not traditional farming. It is agriculture that gives higher income from less land, such as mushroom farming, dragon fruit, kiwi, or organic vegetables.

Observation: Around the Kathmandu Valley, educated youth are earning hundreds of thousands per month from modern tunnel farming. For this, knowledge of soil testing, market management, and technology is required.

Soft Skills (Soft Skills) - The Key to Success

You may know coding or video production, but if you cannot sell, that skill has little meaning. In my 30 years of experience, I have seen many talented youths fall behind due to a lack of soft skills.

a) Communication and Language (Communication & Language)

• English language: English is essential to work in the global market (Upwork, Freelancer).

• Sales skill: The world’s most money-rich field is sales. If you can convince and sell something, you will never have to be unemployed.

b) Financial Literacy (Financial Literacy)

Earning money is one skill, but managing and growing the money you earn is another major skill. Learn the basics of fundamental analysis and technical analysis of the stock market (NEPSE). This is not gambling; it is a science.

How to Start? (A Practical Roadmap)

Many young people ask, “Sir, it sounds good, but where do we start?” As a summary of my 20 years of experience, here is a six-step roadmap:

1. Self-assessment: Do not follow the crowd. What do you like? Are you a techy person, a creative person, or a people person? Choose one area from above accordingly.

2. Choosing the right sources:

   • Free: YouTube (but there is a risk of getting confused), edX, Khan Academy.

   • Paid but affordable: Udemy (world-class courses are available for 10–12 dollars).

   • Mentorship: Learning at reputed institutes in Nepal helps with networking.

3. Build a portfolio: Show a portfolio instead of a degree.

   • Designers should create a profile on Behance.

   • Coders should upload code to GitHub.

   • Writers should start a blog.

4. Start small: Do not look for a 50,000-rupee job immediately. Do internships or start with 5-dollar tasks on freelancing sites (Upwork, Fiverr).

5. Consistency: To become proficient in any skill, at least 6 months to 1 year of hard effort is required. The habit of learning for one month and quitting will not take you anywhere.

6. Use of AI: Knowing how to use ChatGPT or other AI tools is itself a major skill today. Use it to make your work faster and better.

Conclusion

In the end, my 20 years of experience say, “Do not wander in search of opportunities; prepare yourself so that opportunities follow you.”

The narrative that nothing can be done while staying in Nepal is wrong. The problem is not geography; it is our mindset and skill level. Master any one of the skills mentioned above. A degree is good if you have one, but even without it, your skill will not let you starve; it will teach you to live with dignity.

Start today. Hold on to one skill and invest your six months in it. Your future is bright.

Writer of this Article: Ramesh Thapa

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