In India, a recent report by the International Labour Organization reveals that 83 percent of young people are unemployed. This problem extends across all classes, from rural youths with limited education to highly educated individuals facing intense competition in an ever-changing job market.

New Delhi

A recent report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has brought to light the concerning state of unemployment among the youth in India. According to the report, an astonishing 83 percent of young people in the country are currently without work. This problem is pervasive across all demographics, affecting individuals in rural areas with limited access to education, as well as highly educated young adults who are struggling to find their footing in a competitive and rapidly evolving job market.

The transcript provided insights into the daily lives of those affected by this crisis. Mohit Jaiwal, a 24-year-old, embodies the struggle of many young Indians. To make ends meet, Jaiwal works multiple jobs in the informal sector—a farmer by morning and a sugarcane juice seller by afternoon. His story highlights a prevalent issue in India: the scarcity of formal employment opportunities, pushing the youth to find alternative means of survival. "No one here has got a job in the last 10 years," Jaiwal remarked, shedding light on the dire employment situation that spans across economic classes in the country.

Faraz, a former engineering student from New Delhi, represents another facet of the unemployment problem. After abandoning his engineering studies due to job market fears, he is now preparing for a government job exam. Despite the allure of a stable career in civil service, Faraz faces the harsh reality of fluctuating vacancies and fierce competition, with over a million applicants vying for a mere 5,000 positions annually.

Economist Arun Kumar points to the unemployment crisis as a driving force behind the mass emigration of young Indians. Seeking better opportunities, many are drawn to advanced countries, evident by the long queues outside embassies and high commissions of nations like Canada, the US, UK, and Australia. This trend underscores the urgent need for employment generation within India.

With national polls approaching, the issue of unemployment has captured the attention of voters. A survey conducted by India’s Centre for the Study of Developing Societies revealed that half of the country's 966 million voters are concerned about unemployment, highlighting it as a critical issue that needs to be addressed.



I.L.O. report reveals 83% of young Indians are jobless

Mohit Jaiwal, a 24-year-old, repeats the same action several times a day. He is amongst the 90% of unemployed young Indians who hold several jobs in the informal sector to support themselves financially. He is a farmer in the morning and in the afternoon, he sells sugarcane juice on the streets. I could not get a job, so I thought about doing something else. After all, I need to survive. Everyone is trying to do something of their own. We are either farmers, someone is driving a rickshaw. No one here has got a job in the last 10 years. The lack of jobs have affected people from all economic classes in India. In New Delhi, Faraz, a former engineering student, gave up his studies because he feared he would not find a job in this sector. He now spends his days studying for a government job, aiming to secure a lifelong career as a civil servant. His aspiration comes with its share of challenges. Even within the government sector, since the number of vacancies are fluctuating a lot, both in the central and the state services, so there is a level of uncertainty here as well, which makes us apprehensive about job opportunities in the government sector as well. Competition to become a civil servant is fierce. Out of over one million applicants each year, only 5,000 are successful. For economist Arun Kumar, India's unemployment problem is resulting in the mass emigration of young Indians. The Indians are wanting to go to the advanced countries, whether it be US, UK, France, Germany, etc. You see the queues outside Canadian embassies and outside Australia's high commission, youth wanting to go there because they are not getting proper work here. So employment generation is a huge issue. In the lead-up to the polls, a survey by India's Centre for the Study of Developing Societies found that half of the 966 million voters are concerned about the unemployment in the country.

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