With the Indian parliamentary election commencing shortly, the critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government have claimed that India is sitting on a “ticking bomb” of joblessness . The critics have further said that each year, around 7 to 8 million youth are added to the labour force in India, but between 2012 and 2019, there was almost zero growth in employment – just 0.01%!

Those advancing such alarming view on unemployment scenario in India are citing the report released recently by International Labour organisation (ILO) on “Indian employment report 2024”.

The ILO report said that 83% of jobless Indians are youth and only 17.5% of youth in rural areas are engaged in regular work. Further, the ILO report said that the share of people employed in industry and manufacturing has remained the same since 2012 at 22% of the total work force. Further, the report goes on to say that the percentage of youth involved in economic activities decreased from 42% in 2012 to 37% by 2022.

A careful observer of Indian industrial, economic and social scenario in a holistic manner, whether living in India or visiting India for a short or extended period, cannot but see that there is growth in the country in multiple directions in the last ten years after Mr. Modi has assumed charge as Prime Minister of India. Such people would only react to the contents of the report of International Labour Organisation and views of the critics of Modi government with a pinch of salt and inevitably conclude that such views of ILO and critics are misinformed with conclusions arrived at carelessly.

In a densely populated country like India with 1400 million people in various age groups and predominantly youth population, if there were to be such severe level of joblessness as stated in the above report, then certainly riots would have taken place on streets all over India. However, the truth is that country has largely been remaining peaceful and with people belonging to various age groups participating in multiple festivals, cultural and sports events with great enthusiasm. Obviously, if there were to be such extensive level of joblessness........

© Eurasia Review