India Adds 17 Crore Jobs Since 2017-18: Boost in Employment and Female Participation

India’s labour market has witnessed a significant transformation over the past six years. According to data shared in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, the number of employed people in India increased from 47.5 crore in 2017-18 to 64.33 crore in 2023-24. The findings, based on the Reserve Bank of India’s KLEMS database, highlight rising employment, declining unemployment, and growing female participation in the workforce.

Rising Employment Opportunities

1. Between 2017-18 and 2023-24, India added nearly 17 crore jobs, showcasing strong economic resilience and expansion in productive employment.
2. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 60.1% in 2023-24.
3. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) increased from 46.8% to 58.2% during the same period.
4. The unemployment rate showed a sharp decline from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24, countering earlier concerns of joblessness.

Female Workforce Participation on the Rise

• One of the most notable achievements is the sharp increase in women’s participation in the workforce.
• The WPR for women aged 15 and above jumped from 28.7% in 2019-20 to 40.3% in 2023-24.
• This growth reflects greater inclusion of women in economic activities, supported by government policies and changing social dynamics.
• Youth Employment Trends
• India’s youth unemployment rate has seen remarkable progress.
• It dropped from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10.2% in 2023-24, now below the global average of 13.3%.
• This indicates higher job absorption of young workers in both urban and rural sectors.

Data Collection and Global Credibility

• The government emphasized the credibility of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), dismissing reports that questioned India’s unemployment data.
• The PLFS is “globally recognized” and aligned with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.
• From January 2025, PLFS shifted to generating monthly estimates, enabling more frequent updates on labour market trends.
• Its methodology uses large-scale stratified random sampling, covering both urban and rural regions for accuracy.

Government’s Stand

The Labour Ministry clarified that the improvements in labour indicators prove a positive trend in employment, despite challenges posed by global economic uncertainties. It stressed that India’s working-age population is increasingly engaged in productive and gainful employment, rejecting allegations of rising joblessness.