Increase in the share of youth population due to demographic
‘dividend’ or the ‘youth bulge’ seems to be one of the sources of future
economic growth in India. Although with increase in school and college enrollment rates, the proportion of youth in the labour force has been declining, their
high proportions in the labour force indicate that the problem of youth unemployment
and underemployment would remain a serious policy issue for many more years to
come in India. One of the hardest hit segments of the world population is its
youth, who are finding it increasingly difficult to get jobs according to IGIDR
report.
Over four crore unemployed youth in India are
searching for jobs daily? The state and central govts are making tall claims
that they have created good job opportunities and the unemployment problem is
in vain. But the latest statistics reveal that over seven crore qualified un
employed youth are searching for right jobs across the country and they are
getting frustrated due to non availability of right job. I think the govt must
take this as serious as the youth may go to wrong way and start living.
At the core of India’s
unemployment trap is a set of complex issues, including a skills deficit, an
outdated educational system and corruption at the grassroots level. These
issues are deeply interconnected, and solving one might not really solve the
ultimate problem – youth unemployment.
The global crisis, caused largely by the developed world’s
financial excesses, and the ensuing balance sheet repairing have battered the
world economy in a way not seen since the Great Depression. And globalization
has meant that countries and economies not party to the excesses have also been
impacted.
However, youth unemployment remains high in India, and it hasn’t been helped by the global crisis. The latest World Development Report by the World Bank says India’s youth unemployment — as a percentage of the youth work force — was 9.9% for males and 11.3% for females in 2010. In 1985, the figures were 8.3% and 8%, respectively. Youth unemployment in India, like most countries, has consistently been above the national average. But of late, the data indicate rising youth unemployment, now virtually 50% more than the national average, or total unemployment rate. The projected unemployment rate remains unchanged from the peak of the crisis in 2009, and is slightly up from last year's 12.6 percent, according to the Global Employment Trends for Youth 2012 report.
However, youth unemployment remains high in India, and it hasn’t been helped by the global crisis. The latest World Development Report by the World Bank says India’s youth unemployment — as a percentage of the youth work force — was 9.9% for males and 11.3% for females in 2010. In 1985, the figures were 8.3% and 8%, respectively. Youth unemployment in India, like most countries, has consistently been above the national average. But of late, the data indicate rising youth unemployment, now virtually 50% more than the national average, or total unemployment rate. The projected unemployment rate remains unchanged from the peak of the crisis in 2009, and is slightly up from last year's 12.6 percent, according to the Global Employment Trends for Youth 2012 report.
Many young people are trapped in low-productivity, temporary or
other types of work that don't pave the way for better jobs. In developed
economies, youth are increasingly employed in temporary and part-time jobs
while in the developing world many perform unpaid work supporting informal family
businesses or farms. The challenge for the government is to ensure that
appropriate policies are framed and meticulously implemented to meet the future
aspirations of India’s youth. The adverse impact of the global crisis sends out
a strong message. India has its work cut out.
40 Million Unemployed with an
Unemployment Rate of 9.4%
The survey was conducted in 28 States/UTs spread across the country in which about 99 per cent of the country’s population resides. It estimates that the population of the country is 1182 million with 63.5% in the working age of 15 – 59 years; however, not everyone who is in the working age is interested in joining the work force, so the worker population ratio is much lower. There are an estimated 238 million households, of which 172 million are rural and 66 million are urban. Out of the total population of the States/UTs covered, 872 million persons (73.8 per cent) live in rural areas and 310 million persons (26.2 per cent) live in urban areas. In the Indian context, – 359 persons per 1,000 are either working or interested to work, and this is called the Labor Force Participation Rate. So, out of an estimated population of 1,182 million – 424 million persons are either employed or are interested in working. The unemployment rate of 9.4% means that out of those 359 persons per thousand, or 424 million people – there are 9.4% or about 40 million who were unemployed.
The survey was conducted in 28 States/UTs spread across the country in which about 99 per cent of the country’s population resides. It estimates that the population of the country is 1182 million with 63.5% in the working age of 15 – 59 years; however, not everyone who is in the working age is interested in joining the work force, so the worker population ratio is much lower. There are an estimated 238 million households, of which 172 million are rural and 66 million are urban. Out of the total population of the States/UTs covered, 872 million persons (73.8 per cent) live in rural areas and 310 million persons (26.2 per cent) live in urban areas. In the Indian context, – 359 persons per 1,000 are either working or interested to work, and this is called the Labor Force Participation Rate. So, out of an estimated population of 1,182 million – 424 million persons are either employed or are interested in working. The unemployment rate of 9.4% means that out of those 359 persons per thousand, or 424 million people – there are 9.4% or about 40 million who were unemployed.
Conclusion:
Skill improvement is one of the important things needed in active
labour market policies. Expanding capacity through private sector initiatives
in higher learning needs to be explored while maintaining quality. Investments are
important for higher growth which can improve employment if invested in labour
intensive sectors. One of the reasons for the low growth in employment in the post
reform period could be low growth in public investment. Conditions of work and
promotion of livelihoods are important for raising the incomes of youth
workers. India
has not been able to take advantage of ‘demographic dividend’ because of low
education and skills. “It is important to realize however that we can only reap
this demographic dividend if we invest on human resource development and skill
formation in a massive way and create productive employment for our relatively
young working”
