India's young population is facing a persistent challenge of high unemployment rates, with approximately 83% of the unemployed falling within this demographic group, according to the 2024 India Employment Report released jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD).
The report underscores a concerning trend where the proportion of educated young people, possessing at least secondary education, among the total unemployed youth has nearly doubled from 35.2 percent in 2000 to 65.7 percent in 2022.
Dropout rates after secondary education remain high, particularly in poorer states and among marginalised groups. Despite rising enrolment in higher education, quality concerns persist, with significant learning deficits observed across school and higher education levels, as per the report.
The report highlights a notable increase in youth employment and underemployment from 2000 to 2019, although these figures declined during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic.