India's employment surge: 16.8 crore new jobs created in six years
New Delhi: Employment in India rose to 64.33 crore in 2023-24, up from 47.5 crore in 2017-18, marking a net addition of 16.83 crore jobs over six years, according to data from the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The unemployment rate fell from 6 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24, while around 1.56 crore women joined the formal workforce during the period.
“This growth is especially significant because, from an economic standpoint, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) alone cannot fully capture a nation's true development. A more accurate picture emerges when multiple macroeconomic indicators are considered, with employment being one of the most critical,” the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for June–August 2025 showed improvements in key employment indicators. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), measuring the share of people aged 15 and above who are working or seeking work, rose from 54.2 per cent in June to 55 per cent in August. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), indicating the share of employed persons in the population, increased from 51.2 per cent to 52.2 per cent, with gains observed in both rural and urban areas.
Looking at longer-term trends, the LFPR for individuals aged 15 years and above rose from 49.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 60.1 per cent in 2023-24, while WPR increased from 46.8 per cent to 58.2 per cent.
Sectoral data for April–June 2025 showed that the agriculture sector employed the majority of rural workers (44.6 per cent of men and 70.9 per cent of women), whereas the tertiary sector was the largest source of urban employment (60.6 per cent of men and 64.9 per cent of women). On average, 56.4 crore people aged 15 and above were employed during this quarter, including 39.7 crore men and 16.7 crore women.
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) added over 1.29 crore net subscribers in 2024-25, up from 61.12 lakh in 2018-19. Employment patterns also indicate a shift towards entrepreneurship, with self-employment rising from 52.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 58.4 per cent in 2023-24, while casual labour fell from 24.9 per cent to 19.8 per cent.
“Employment carries both economic and social weight: higher job levels signal a stronger economy, stimulate consumption, and fuel sustained growth. For development to be meaningful, economic expansion must translate into the creation of productive, well-paying jobs that enhance livelihoods and social stability,” the ministry said.
IANS