The share of women in regular salaried jobs in urban India is at its lowest point in four years, according to the latest government data. That’s because India, despite its rapid economic growth, has chronically failed to create formal, productive jobs quickly enough.
Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest urban unemployment rate at 33.9%, followed by Rajasthan at 30.2% among the 15 to 29 age group during July-September 2023. According to PLFS by NSSO, female unemployment in Himachal Pradesh reached 49.2%, while Rajasthan showed 39.4%, both higher than male unemployment rates.
India's official employment data shows that while the unemployment rate has fallen, the quality of jobs getting created is getting worse even as monthly earnings have remained largely stagnant since 2017
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for January-March 2021, released last week, shows that unemployment rates for the quarter were close to pre-covid levels of 2020. And women bore the brunt of the pandemic in terms of the economic fallout. Mint explains: