India Witnesses 17 Crore Job Surge Since 2017–18 and Female Labour Force Participation Reaches Record High of 41.7%.
Economy Business
Between the fiscal years 2017‑18 and 2023‑24, India added 17 crore jobs, increasing total employment from approximately 47.5 crore to 64.3 crore, as reported by Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje in the Lok Sabha. Notably, female labour force participation has exceeded 40%, and youth unemployment has declined significantly.
- A World Bank report indicates that since 2021‑22, employment in India has grown faster than the working‑age population. Urban unemployment fell to 6.6% in Q1 FY24‑25, marking the lowest level since 2017‑18. Female employment and self‑employment—especially among rural women—have both surged in recent years.
- According to the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC‑PM), rural FLFPR( Female Labour Force Participation Rate) climbed from 24.6% in 2017‑18 to 41.5% in 2022‑23, while urban FLFPR rose from 20.4% to 25.4%. The overall national FLFPR reached 41.7% in June 2024 according to PLFS data, showing a dramatic rise driven largely by rural women.
- The Economic Survey 2024‑25 highlights that self‑employment among women increased from 52.2% in 2017‑18 to 58.4% in 2023‑24. While this reflects growing economic participation, experts caution that the majority of these roles are in informal or low-paid sectors—only 15.9% of working women now hold regular wage or salaried jobs.
Main Point :- (i) Despite overall employment gains, youth unemployment remains a challenge, with a rate of 13.3%, and even higher (29%) among degree holders. Meanwhile, the gender wage gap persists: self-employed women earn roughly one-third of what men earn, and only 23% of non-farm jobs are formal.
(ii) Schemes like Mudra Loans, Drone Didi, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM), outcome-based skilling models like Skill Impact Bond (SIB), and entrepreneurship programmes under Startup India have driven inclusion. Over 73,151 startups with at least one woman director were registered by October 2024.
(iii) Despite encouraging trends, India’s female participation lags behind G20 averages. A Reuters poll suggests India may take 20–30 years to reach the global average of around 50% female LFPR. Experts stress the need for safer workplaces, accessible childcare, anti-discrimination laws, transport infrastructure, and formalization to sustain progress.
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