Unemployment in India has reached alarming levels, particularly in states like Kerala, despite the government’s assertions of robust economic growth. While India projects a growth rate of 6.5% for the current fiscal year, data from the Labour Force Survey reveals a troubling rise in joblessness, especially among the youth.

In Kerala, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15-29 has surged to 30%, with women facing an even higher rate of 47% compared to 19% for men.

Overall unemployment has climbed from 2.9% to 3.2% in 2023-24, showing no significant improvement despite government promises.

High youth unemployment is also prevalent in regions such as Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh, contributing to a situation where 83% of unemployed individuals are young, many of whom are forced to accept low-paying jobs.

Economist Kunal Kundu has raised concerns about the government’s employment strategies, suggesting that reliance on traditional sectors like infrastructure and manufacturing may not suffice to tackle the issue.

He warned that without a more effective plan, India risks squandering its demographic advantage.

Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) pledges to create jobs since 2014, unemployment persists.

Data indicates that while the unemployment rate was 3.4% in 2013-14, it decreased only slightly to 3.2% by 2022-23.

The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy reported a higher rate of 7.6% in March 2024.

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