New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) Employment in India rose to 64.33 crore in 2023-24 compared to 47.5 crore in 2017-18 which is a net addition of 16.83 crore jobs over six years, Ministry of Labour and Employment said.
This tremendous employment growth reflects the government’s focus on youth-centric policies and its Viksit Bharat Vision. The growth is also significant from an economic standpoint as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) alone can’t fully capture the nation’s economic development.
A more accurate picture of economic health comes when a variety of macroeconomic indicators are considered with employment being one of the most critical as it carries both economic and social weight.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data of August 2025 which was collected from 3.77 lakh individuals- with 2.16 lakh surveyed in rural areas and 1.61 lakh in urban areas showed remarkable results.
The Labour Force Participation Ratio (LFPR) which measures the share of people aged 15 above who are working or seeking work rose from 54.2pc in June to 55pc in August 2025.
Moreover, the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) which reflects the share of employed persons in the population also increased from 51.2pc in June to 52.2pc in August 2025.
The rise in WPR was observed both in rural and urban areas contributing to the overall national employment. Moreover, these trends also highlight a more healthier labor market.
Shedding light on the sectoral trends the data showed that in April-June 2025 quarter, agriculture sector engaged in the majority of rural workers (44.6pc of men and 70.9 of women) and the tertiary sector was the largest source of employment in urban areas (60.6pc of men and 64.9pc of women).
Moreover, on average 56.4 crore persons (aged 15 and above) were employed in the country during this quarter, of which 39.7 crore were men and 16.7 crore were women.
The formal employment sector also showed positive signs as in 2024-25 over 1.29 crore net subscribers were added to Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) which is 61.12 lakh in 2018-19.
Additionally, self-employment also rose from 52.2pc in 2017-18 to 58.4pc in 2023-24 which is showing a move toward entrepreneurial and independent work which is supported by various government initiatives.
Another positive is the decline in the unemployment rate (UR) that dipped sharply from 6.0pc in 2017–18 to 3.2pc in 2023–24 indicating stronger workforce absorption into productive employment.
India’s employment boom and sectoral robustness is driven by ongoing surge in domains including healthcare technology, eCommerce logistics, financial technology and ed-tech. Basically, these industries aren’t just shaping the nature of work but also generating new and diverse employment opportunities for youth and digitally skilled workers.
The defining factor of India’s evolving job market is the rise of the gig economy, which has redefined the traditional employment norms.
‘Gig Economy’ refers to a labor market defined by short-term, flexible and often freelance work facilitated by digital platforms that connect service seekers and independent workers.
Additionally, the country’s demographic dividend is also being actively cultivated through targeted initiatives aimed to bridge the gap between education and employment. The economy is also witnessing job growth in emerging sectors such as startups and global capability centres (GCCs) creating new and diverse employment for youth.
‘Global Capability Centres (GCCs)’ refer to wholly-owned, strategic hubs established by multinational corporations to deliver a broad range of specialized functions like IT, finance, Research and Development, customer service from a location with access to a global talent pool.
Fortunately, India’s startup ecosystem boasts 1.9 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups- the world’s 3rd largest, creating over 17 lakh jobs and 118 unicorns as of 2025.
By creating a skilling ecosystem with high-quality and globally competitive workforce, India can enhance employability for youth in global job markets. The government is continuously fostering public-private partnership for inclusive growth and promoting digital literacy and eco-friendly work values.
The sectoral job data showed India’s consistent job creation across key sectors which reinforces the country’s position as one of the world’s fastest growing economies.
