ILO Report Highlights Unemployment in India

• 27 Mar 2024

On 26th March, India Employment Report 2024 released by ILO and IHD discussed India’s Youth unemployment, gender gap, and social inequalities.

Key Points

• Unemployment: India's youth account for almost 83% of the unemployed workforce.

• Share of educated youth in total unemployed increased from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022.

• Long-Term Trends: Labour market indicators deteriorated between 2000 and 2018, improving after 2019.

• Paradoxical improvements seen, but insufficient growth in non-farm sectors remains a challenge.

• Informal Work and Insecurities: Almost 90% of workers remain engaged in informal work.

• Share of regular work declined after 2018, leading to widespread livelihood insecurities.

• Skill Gaps: Many youth lack basic digital skills, hindering employment prospects.

• Widening gender gap in the labour market, especially among highly educated women.

• Social Inequalities: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes face challenges in accessing better jobs.

• Despite improvements in education, social hierarchy persists, contributing to inequalities.