Employment
Employment.
India’s educated youth face significant challenges, particularly in the areas of unemployment and underemployment. Despite the country experiencing relatively low inflation, unemployment remains high, with educated unemployment among graduates reaching around 20%. This issue is compounded by factors such as political instability, a lack of entrepreneurial opportunities, and the poor quality of education. The education system, particularly at the college level, is struggling to produce graduates with the skills necessary for the job market. In an effort to address these concerns, Mr. Kapil Sibal has initiated the de-affiliation of some underperforming colleges. However, the problem persists as many private and older government colleges continue to deliver substandard education, further fueling the unemployment crisis by producing inadequately trained graduates.
Education in India has increasingly become a business, with many institutions prioritizing profit over the delivery of quality education. While there have been steps to modernize the education system, much more needs to be done. For example, the removal of board examinations for the 10th standard was a move aimed at reducing stress on young students, but the pressure from parents to pursue traditional careers in engineering or medicine remains a significant factor contributing to educated unemployment. This mismatch between graduates’ aspirations and the employment opportunities available to them has exacerbated the problem. Many parents push their children into fields like engineering or medicine, often disregarding the child’s own interests and aptitudes.
The engineering sector, in particular, has seen a surge in popularity, with students flocking to private colleges in the hope of securing lucrative careers. However, many of these institutions are not up to standard. Only 25% of engineering graduates in India are considered employable, according to a report by NASSCOM, highlighting the urgent need for the government to improve the quality of education and align curricula with industry standards. The lack of proper accreditation, such as AICTE approval and NBA accreditation, further exacerbates the issue, leaving students with degrees that do not meet the demands of the job market.
The consequences of unemployment and underemployment are severe, particularly for graduates. Many students come from middle-class families, with parents investing significant sums in their education in the hope that they will secure a stable job upon graduation. When these expectations are not met, the psychological impact on graduates can be devastating, leading to depression and anxiety. The crucial period after completing secondary education is often fraught with uncertainty, as students struggle to choose the right career path. Many are hesitant to pursue unconventional courses, opting instead for saturated fields like engineering, medicine, and business administration. As a result, other professions that might better suit their interests and capabilities are overlooked, leading to further job market saturation.
As of 2011, India had 1,522 degree-granting engineering colleges with an annual intake of 582,000 students, along with 1,244 polytechnics admitting 265,000 students annually. Despite the large number of institutions, there is a significant shortage of qualified faculty, and concerns about the quality of education persist. The Indian education system also includes affirmative action policies, reserving a substantial number of seats for historically disadvantaged groups such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. Federal institutions have a minimum of 50% reservation for these groups, though this percentage can vary by state. For instance, Andhra Pradesh had a reservation rate of 83.33% as of 2012, the highest in the country.
The impact of unemployment extends beyond mere statistics, leading to tragic outcomes such as suicide. For example, a 34-year-old man in Ghatkopar, Mumbai, took his own life after struggling with unemployment and a sense of hopelessness. Similarly, in Bihar, youth unemployment has become widespread, affecting all sections of society, not just the poor. Migration, which once primarily involved individuals from impoverished backgrounds, now includes young people from all socioeconomic levels. This shift highlights how unemployment has become a pervasive issue, impacting the entire population of Bihar, which remains largely agrarian despite recent economic growth. The labor force participation rate in Bihar is nearly 10% lower than the national average, further underscoring the challenges faced by the state’s youth in securing meaningful employment.