Employment in India has surged to 64.33 crore in 2023-24 from 47.5 crore in 2017-18, marking a net addition of 16.83 crore jobs over six years, according to data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Friday. The unemployment rate has plummeted from 6.0 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24, while 1.56 crore women have joined the formal workforce in the past seven years, reflecting the government’s push for youth-centric policies and its vision of a developed India by 2047.
As one of the fastest-growing economies, India is poised to supply nearly two-thirds of new workforce entrants globally in the coming years, as per the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. The growth in employment underscores that gross domestic product alone does not capture a nation’s progress; it must be viewed alongside indicators like job creation, which boosts consumption, economic strength, and social stability.
The government tracks employment through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Statistics Office, providing estimates on key metrics such as the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR). The latest PLFS data for August 2025, based on surveys of 3.77 lakh individuals—including 2.16 lakh in rural areas and 1.61 lakh in urban areas—shows improvements in these indicators. The LFPR for those aged 15 and above rose from 54.2 per cent in June to 55 per cent in August 2025, while the WPR increased from 51.2 per cent to 52.2 per cent over the same period. On a longer timeline, LFPR climbed from 49.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 60.1 per cent in 2023-24, and WPR rose from 46.8 per cent to 58.2 per cent.
Sectoral trends from the April-June 2025 quarter reveal that agriculture remains dominant in rural areas, employing 44.6 per cent of men and 70.9 per cent of women, while the tertiary sector leads in urban employment with 60.6 per cent of men and 64.9 per cent of women. Overall, 56.4 crore people aged 15 and above were employed during this quarter, comprising 39.7 crore men and 16.7 crore women.
Formal employment has also seen a sharp rise, with over 1.29 crore net subscribers added to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in 2024-25, compared to 61.12 lakh in 2018-19. Since September 2017, more than 7.73 crore net subscribers have joined, including 21.04 lakh in July 2025 alone. In that month, 9.79 lakh new subscribers were added, with 60 per cent in the 18-25 age group, driven by expanding job opportunities, awareness of benefits, and EPFO outreach.
Employment patterns are shifting, with self-employment increasing from 52.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 58.4 per cent in 2023-24, while casual labour declined from 24.9 per cent to 19.8 per cent, signalling a trend towards entrepreneurship supported by government schemes. Wages have risen too: the average daily wage for casual labourers (excluding public works) grew from ₹294 in July-September 2017 to ₹433 in April-June 2024, and monthly earnings for regular salaried workers increased from ₹16,538 to ₹21,103 over the same period.
The youth unemployment rate has fallen from 17.8 per cent to 10.2 per cent between 2017-18 and 2023-24, below the global average of 13.3 per cent as per the ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook 2024. Male unemployment (aged 15 and above) dropped to 5 per cent in August 2025, the lowest since April, with urban rates easing to 5.9 per cent and rural to 4.3 per cent. Rural unemployment overall has declined steadily from 5.1 per cent in May to 4.3 per cent in August 2025.
Women are increasingly moving from the margins to the mainstream, with the female LFPR doubling from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24, and WPR rising from 22 per cent to 40.3 per cent. More recently, female WPR climbed to 32.0 per cent in August 2025 from 30.2 per cent in June, and LFPR to 33.7 per cent from 32.0 per cent. EPFO data shows 26.9 lakh net female subscribers added in 2024-25, with 2.80 lakh new ones in July 2025 and a net addition of 4.42 lakh, highlighting a more inclusive workforce.
This growth is fuelled by emerging sectors like healthcare technology, e-commerce logistics, financial technology, and ed-tech, alongside the digital economy and renewable energy, which offer opportunities especially for women. The gig economy is expanding rapidly, with India’s gig workforce projected to grow from 1 crore in 2024-25 to 2.35 crore by 2029-30. The government supports this through the Code on Social Security (2020) and the e-Shram portal, where over 31.20 crore workers have registered as of September 30, 2025.
Startups and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are key drivers, with India’s 1.9 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups—the world’s third-largest—creating over 17 lakh jobs and 118 unicorns by 2025. Government initiatives like Skill India, through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, provide training via schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.
Rozgar Melas have connected youth with private sector jobs, with over 11 lakh placements in the last 16 months. The PM Vishwakarma scheme has registered nearly 30 lakh artisans, with skill verification for over 26 lakh. The ITI upgradation scheme, approved in May 2025, aims to modernize 1,000 government ITIs in a hub-and-spoke model, skilling 20 lakh youth over five years. The Employment Linked Incentive Scheme targets over 3.5 crore jobs in two years with a ₹1 lakh crore outlay, focusing on manufacturing.
Other flagship programmes include MGNREGA, with ₹86,000 crore allocated for FY 2025-26—the highest ever—providing 100 days of guaranteed rural wage employment. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, launched in August 2025 with a ₹99,446 crore budget, incentivizes hiring 1.92 crore new employees and creating 2.59 crore additional jobs. Initiatives like the PM Internship Scheme and public-private partnerships enhance vocational training, while Make in India boosts manufacturing jobs.
For women, schemes like Namo Drone Didi aim to provide 15,000 drones to women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for agricultural services, generating at least ₹1 lakh annual income per group. Mission Shakti offers daycare and training for empowerment, while the Lakhpati Didi Scheme has helped 2 crore women achieve ₹1 lakh annual household income, targeting 3 crore overall. Programmes like Bank Sakhi, Bima Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi, and Pashu Sakhi provide sustainable employment, alongside credit and skill support through DAY-NRLM, SANKALP, and others. Research-focused initiatives like WISE-KIRAN and SERB-POWER promote women in science.
Looking ahead, India is addressing digital proficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability through skill development, public-private ties, and eco-friendly practices. With 1,700 GCCs employing over two million and set to grow, India is emerging as the “GCC Capital of the World.” This job creation across sectors positions India as a global powerhouse, driven by reforms and a focus on inclusive growth.