India’s labour market shows gains, but challenges persist

E very year, about 7-10 million young Indians enter the labour market. They are better educated than any generation before them — the average years of formal schooling for those aged 15 and above has reached 10 years nationally — and with hopes and expectations to match. This raises key questions: Can India’s economy productively absorb the current generation of new workers, including youth and women? Under what conditions? And how can India ensure that its demographic potential translates into meaningful employment and economic growth?