India's Youth Grapple with Soaring Unemployment and Skill Deficits: India Employment Report 2024

Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacking Modi Govt on the issue of unemployment said that today every youth of the country has understood that BJP cannot provide employment. "The Congress Party has a concrete plan to provide employment to the youth,” Gandhi said.

India’s youth continue to face formidable challenges in securing employment, as highlighted by the India Employment Report 2024, jointly published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD). The report reveals alarming statistics indicating a significant portion of the unemployed workforce comprises young individuals, with nearly 83 percent of jobless individuals falling within the youth demographic.

One of the most concerning trends outlined in the report is the substantial increase in the share of educated youth among the unemployed. Over the past two decades, the proportion of educated young people, possessing at least secondary education, in the total unemployed youth has nearly doubled from 35.2 percent in 2000 to 65.7 percent in 2022.

Despite rising enrollment in higher education, the quality of education remains a pressing concern, with significant learning deficits observed across school and higher education levels. Dropout rates after secondary education remain high, particularly in poorer states and among marginalized groups, exacerbating the unemployment crisis among educated youth.

The report, released by Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran on March 26, underscores the paradoxical dynamics of the labor market, with improvements and setbacks observed in key indicators. While indicators such as the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR) witnessed a decline between 2000 and 2018, signs of improvement emerged post-2019, albeit with questions raised about the drivers of these changes.

Wages have largely stagnated or declined, particularly for regular workers and self-employed individuals, with a substantial portion of unskilled casual workers failing to receive mandated minimum wages in 2022. Moreover, significant regional disparities persist, with states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh consistently experiencing poor employment outcomes.

Congress attacks Modi Govt over unemployment

Addressing the challenge of youth unemployment, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, emphasized, "Today every youth of the country has understood that BJP cannot provide employment." She added, "The Congress Party has a concrete plan to provide employment to the youth," outlining initiatives such as filling 1-30 lakh vacant government posts immediately, providing apprenticeships to graduates and diploma holders, enacting strict laws against paper leaks, guaranteeing social security to gig workers, and establishing a national fund of Rs 5000 crore for startups.

However, the report also highlights the pressing issue of skill deficits among Indian youth, with a significant portion lacking basic digital literacy skills. A staggering 90 percent of Indian youth are unable to perform tasks such as putting a mathematical formula into a spreadsheet, while 60 percent struggle with copying and pasting files. Additionally, at least 75 percent of youth face challenges in sending emails with attachments, underscoring the need for urgent interventions to address skill gaps and enhance employability.

Furthermore, gender disparities persist in the labor market, with low rates of female labor force participation and challenges faced by young women, particularly those with higher education, in securing employment. Social inequalities also continue to hinder access to better job opportunities, with Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes facing barriers despite improvements in educational attainment.

In conclusion, the India Employment Report 2024 highlights the multifaceted challenges confronting India's youth, ranging from high unemployment rates and skill deficits to persistent gender and social disparities. Urgent and concerted efforts are required from policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to address these issues and foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth.