India is going through a very strange time. We have a lot of people. 367 Million people between 15 and 29 years old. And they are more educated and connected than any other generation in Indias history.. The latest report from Azim Premji University says that many of these young people are not working. This is a problem because we thought that having so many young people would be a good thing for India.
The numbers are very surprising: 40% of people in India who finished college and are under 25 years old do not have a job. In India many families spend a lot of money to send their kids to college but now that piece of paper is not helping them get a job.
The Big Disconnection: College Degree vs. Job
For a time people in India thought that going to school was the way to get out of poverty.. It is true that more people are going to school now. In the 40 years many more people are going to high school and college. We have a lot colleges now. Almost 70,000.
The problem is that many people who finish college are not getting jobs. India produces five million graduates every year but only about half of them can find a job.. Many of these jobs are not good jobs with benefits and stability.
This is not just because there are not jobs. It is because many young people in India do not want to do the kind of work their parents did. They want to work in factories or in offices. There are not enough of these jobs.
A Difficult Reality for Women and the Working Class
The job market is especially tough for women. Some women are doing well. Getting good jobs in places like Tamil Nadu.. Many women are not doing well. They are working in low-paying jobs, such as ironing clothes or helping in family stores; consequently, they often receive little or no pay, and as a result, they are unable to progress in life.
Many young men are also having a time. Since 2017 fewer men are going to college. This is because they need to help support their families. They are dropping out of school to do work, which is the same kind of work their parents did.
The Problem with Education and the Economy
Why is this happening? Economists say it is because of two problems: the quality of education and the kind of economy India has.
Many colleges in India are private. This has made it so that some colleges are better than others. Many graduates do not have the skills they need to get a job. The teachers are not always good. The classes are not always relevant.
Indias economy is also a problem. We are growing,. It is not the kind of growth that helps everyone. We are creating jobs in places like IT and finance. These jobs are only for people who are very highly educated. This means that many graduates are not able to get jobs.
We Need to Act Fast
Indias population is very young. The average age is 28. This is a thing but it will not last forever. In 10 years, our population will begin to age. We need to create jobs or we will have a big problem.
The use of Artificial Intelligence is also a concern. Many jobs that Indians want. Office jobs. Are the kinds of jobs that can be done by machines.
To solve this problem we need to do more than just create jobs. We need to change the way our economy works. We need:
- Many more jobs in manufacturing so people can work in factories
- Education that is connected to the jobs that’re available so people have the skills they need
- Help for people who move to a place to work so they are not taken advantage of
The question is not just about creating jobs. It is about creating hope. Many young people in India have done everything they are supposed to do. They stayed in school they got grades they moved to the city. But they are still not working. If we do not create jobs for them they will be very disappointed.. If we do not act soon this will be a big problem, for India. Read More
