Job Quality Concerns Persist Across India Despite Falling Unemployment

UPDATE - follow-up to Even as unemployment falls, lack of 'decent work' in India: India's unemployment rate dropped from 6.1 percent in the 2017-18 period down to 3.2 percent in 2023-24, alongside a rise in female workforce participation for the first time in decades. Despite these positive numbers, the core issue remains the quality of jobs being created and the working conditions that come with them. Employment by itself does not guarantee dignity, security, or a stable way to live. For instance, a garment sewing worker without a formal contract, a gig worker lacking insurance, or a construction labourer without paid leave are counted as employed while staying outside the bounds of decent work.

Standards

The International Labour Organization defines decent work as jobs that provide fair income, workplace rights, social security, and dignity, which is also a part of Sustainable Development Goal 8. Measured by these global standards, India's job market continues to show high levels of informality, insecure jobs, and growing inequalities, even in sectors where working conditions have seen some improvement.

Context

Poor-quality job growth harms overall economic growth because workers who lack social security spend less, save less, and stay vulnerable to sudden financial shocks. This follow-up looks at the ongoing debate over job quality in India as employment numbers improve.