The Youth in India 2022 Report, released following a survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS across 18 states in India, provides crucial insights on youth concerns and aspirations. The survey identifies unemployment and price rise as immediate issues and delves into how economic classes and gender intersect with these concerns. It also presents evolving job aspirations and preferences among the youth.
Major Highlights of the Survey
Unemployment, Price Rise, and Gender Disparity: The survey demonstrates a 7% point increase in respondents citing price rise as their primary worry. A concern for unemployment is significant among highly educated respondents (40%) and non-literate individuals (27%). A notable finding is the greater prominence of poverty and price rise issues among young women.
Occupational Diversity: Insights into Youth Employment: Nearly half of respondents are employed in some capacity – with 40% in full-time jobs and 9% part-time. Self-employment is seen in 23% of these working youth, indicating a strong entrepreneurial inclination. Workforce composition includes doctors and engineers (16%), agricultural and skilled labor (15% and 27%, respectively).
Job Aspirations and Preferences: The health sector and education sector attract 16% and 14% of respondents . Science, technology-related jobs and starting businesses share equal preference at 10%. Meanwhile, government jobs remain popular, with 60% expressing a preference for them.
Youth Population in India: Opportunities and Challenges
With more than half of its population below 25 years, and over 65% below 35, India is home to a fifth of the world’s youth demographic. Harnessing this youthful population could be instrumental in achieving India’s goal of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.
Opportunities: The potential demographic dividend provides a chance to focus on education and skill development, creating a competent workforce for various industries. Moreover, youth are more receptive to innovation, new technologies, and entrepreneurship, driving the development of new industries and startups.
Challenges: Issues of underemployment, skill mismatch, and rising mental health concerns pose challenges. Additionally, access disparity to digital technology, persisting gender inequality, and inadequate political representation are areas of concern.
Government Initiatives for Youth Empowerment
Several schemes introduced by the government address youth-related issues. These include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, YUVA: Prime Minister’s Scheme For Mentoring Young Authors, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, National Youth Policy-2014, National Skill Development Corporation, and Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme.
Suggestions for a Better Future
Integrated Skill Ecosystem: Merging formal education with experiential learning could bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Gamified Civic Engagement Platforms: Mobile applications that involve youth in civic activities and political events can increase political awareness and foster a sense of ownership in governance.
Entrepreneurship in Traditional Crafts: Empowering young artisans by integrating traditional crafts with modern marketing could generate income for rural youth while preserving cultural heritage.
Youth Diplomacy and Cultural Exchanges: Encouraging cultural exchanges between young Indians and youths from other nations could lead to global understanding, diplomacy, and cross-border friendships.