New Delhi: A recent survey of 5,169 rural youths across India reveals significant employment and gender disparities. While nearly half of rural men aged 18 to 25 are employed, only a quarter of women in the same age group hold jobs, highlighting a substantial gender gap in rural employment.
The “State of Rural Youth Employment 2024” report, released on August 5 by the Global Development Incubator (GDI), Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), and Transform Rural India Foundation (TRI), is based on interviews with youths aged 18 to 35. It reveals that 70% to 85% of these youths are seeking to change their current jobs.
Among those desiring a job change, many expressed interest in starting small manufacturing, retail, or trading businesses. However, younger women showed a distinct preference for salaried government jobs, a trend that was less pronounced among other demographics.
The survey sample consisted of 2,585 males and 2,584 females, with 26.6% aged between 18-25 years and the remaining 73.4% aged between 26-35 years. Employment statistics among these groups show that over half of the men aged 18-25 are working, whereas only a quarter of the women in the same age bracket are employed. For older men aged 26-35, nearly 85% are employed, with 10% previously employed but now jobless. Among older women, only 40% are employed, 25% have exited the workforce, and 33% have never worked for pay.
The report aligns with data from the Directorate General of Labour, Ministry of Labour and Employment, indicating that 32.8% of females aged 15 and above participate in the labor force, compared to 77.2% of males. For the age group 15-59 years, the female Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is 35.6%, while it is 81.8% for males.
Regarding job preferences, younger male youth show a clear preference for government or private sector jobs, whereas older males are more flexible. Women, irrespective of age, favor government jobs, with older women showing an increasing interest in running small businesses. For women seeking salaried roles, teaching, clerical work, and customer-facing positions are preferred, with factory work and nursing as secondary options. Men prefer teaching, clerical jobs, and factory work, followed by technical roles and sales/marketing.
Entrepreneurial aspirations also surfaced, with women leaning towards businesses in dress materials, clothing, footwear, or general retail. Beauty parlors are a secondary choice. Men prefer opening shops selling clothing, food stalls, or small eateries.
A small percentage of youths showed interest in vocational trades, with men favoring roles like drivers or electricians, and women preferring tailoring or beauty services. This indicates a rising demand for gig work in rural India, though vocational work lacks aspirational appeal.
The report emphasizes the need to restore dignity and pride in vocational trades to unlock local and profitable work opportunities for youth. Despite many young rural business owners aspiring to transition to salaried jobs, preferences vary significantly across genders and current occupations.
Overall, while young men and women currently in salaried jobs prefer to remain in such roles, a notable proportion of current business owners, particularly 55% of men and 40% of women, seek salaried employment. Conversely, those engaged in agriculture or vocational trades, especially men, show a strong inclination towards entrepreneurship.
These insights underscore the complex dynamics of rural youth employment in India, with significant gender disparities and evolving job aspirations shaping the future of rural workforce participation.
