• The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) have jointly published a report titled “India Employment Report 2024”.

KEY FINDINGS

• India’s youth account for almost 83% of the unemployed workforce.
• The Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio and the Unemployment Rate showed a long-term deterioration between 2000 and 2018, but witnessed an improvement after 2019.
• The youth unemployment rate increased with the level of education, with the highest among graduates and higher among women than men.
• Most of the workers remain engaged in informal work and the share of regular work declined after 2018.
• India’s large young workforce don’t appear to have the necessary skills with 75% of youth unable to send emails with attachments.
• Among the educated unemployed youths, women accounted for a larger share (76.7%) than men (62.2%).
• India is also facing the challenge of a substantial gender gap in the labour market, with low rates of female labour force participation.
• India remains ready to reap a demographic dividend for at least another decade due to the youth population remaining at 23% of the total in 2036 from 27% in 2021.

MEASURES:

1. Promoting job creation.
2. Enhancing employment quality.
3. Tackling labor market inequalities.
4. Strengthening skills and active labor market policies.
5. Bridging knowledge gaps regarding labor market trends and youth employment.

ABOUT INDIA EMPLOYMENT REPORT 2024

• The India Employment Report 2024 is the third in the series of regular publications by the Institute for Human Development on labour and employment issues.
• It is undertaken in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• The report examines the challenge of youth employment in the context of the emerging economic, labour market, educational and skills scenarios in India and the changes witnessed over the past two decades
• The report highlights recent trends in the Indian labour market, which indicate improvements in some outcomes along with persisting and new challenges, including those generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.