The East Asia Forum published my commentary on the Indian youth labour market. Here is a synopsis.
Youth-led protests in 2026 exposed deep frustration among young Indians struggling to find stable and fulfilling work. While official data show declining youth unemployment, joblessness among young graduates remains high, with wide disparities across states. The crisis reflects stalled structural transformation, pervasive informal employment, skills mismatches, the rapid privatisation of higher education, an exam-driven education system, and persistent barriers to women’s employment. Government policy focuses too narrowly on skills and employability. A broader strategy is needed that combines labour-intensive industrial policy, new jobs in the AI, green, and care sectors, education reform, gender-responsive infrastructure, and stronger social protection.
The full paper can be read here:
