Employment and Demographic Change

This theme examines the relationship between India’s demographic structure—particularly its large youth population—and patterns of employment. It engages with the idea of a demographic dividend while assessing the conditions under which it can be realised. The focus is on how young people transition from education to work, and how this is shaped by the structure of the economy, the pace of job creation, and the quality of employment. It also considers issues of labour force participation, unemployment, underemployment, and the prevalence of informal and precarious work, alongside the role of education, skills, and migration.

In the Indian context, the persistence of employment challenges alongside a demographic dividend that may end soon, raises key questions. How effectively is the economy absorbing new labour market entrants, and into what kinds of jobs? How do social identities and education attainment shape these outcomes? These questions are addressed through the analysis of large-scale datasets, combined with frameworks that situate these patterns within broader processes of structural transformation and policy change.

Faculty involved: Angarika Rakshit