Context:

According to the recent survey by Lokniti-CSDS, more than one in three (36%) Indians aged between 15 and 34 consider unemployment to be the most significant issue.

Key Findings of Lokniti-CSDS’s Latest Survey:

• Unemployment: As many as 40% of highly educated respondents (graduate and above) identified unemployment as the most pressing concern. 
  • In contrast, only 27% of non-literate individuals cited unemployment as their primary concern, likely due to their greater willingness to take on a range of jobs.
• Corruption: About 6% of respondents identified corruption as the most significant challenge; 4% each identified problems in education and high population.
• Price Rise: The share of those identifying price rise as the primary concern has increased by 7 percentage points.

Occupational Status:

• Full- Time Jobs: Almost half of respondents (49%) said they were engaged in some form of work — 40% had full-time jobs; 9% were working part-time.
• Self Employed:  Almost a fourth (23%) of youth with jobs were self-employed.
• Employment Profile:  Sixteen percent were professionals such as doctors or engineers,15% were involved in agriculture, and semi-unskilled and skilled workers made up 27% of the total. 
• Government Jobs: Only 6% were in government jobs.

Job Aspirations:

• Sector Wise Preference: The education sector was the second most preferred (14%), followed by science and technology-related jobs and starting their own businesses (10% each). 

Government Job vs Private Jobs:

• Three out of five respondents chose government jobs, and more than one out of four opted for their own business.
• The preference for setting up an own business has grown consistently over this period — from 16% in 2007 to 27% in 2023.

News Source: The Indian Express