'Unemployment at a 40-year high', Priyanka targets Centre citing NITI Aayog report

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday stepped up her attack on the Centre over unemployment, citing a NITI Aayog report to claim that joblessness had reached its highest level in four decades and that a large section of India’s youth remained outside education, employment and training. Priyanka said the findings exposed what she described as a deepening employment crisis, particularly among young Indians. She accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to create adequate opportunities despite repeatedly projecting employment generation and economic growth as major achievements.

Referring to the NITI Aayog report on India’s workforce, the Congress leader said the figures presented a worrying picture of the transition from education to employment. She argued that young people were acquiring degrees but increasingly struggling to find work suited to their qualifications. The report has brought renewed attention to young people categorised as NEET — those who are not in education, employment or training. It estimates that nearly nine crore Indians between the ages of 15 and 29 fell into this category in 2021.

Targets Centre over jobs

Priyanka alleged that unemployment was at its highest level in 40 years and questioned the government over the employment prospects available to India's growing population of educated young people. She said the employment situation was particularly troubling because the country has a large young population whose potential could become an economic strength only if sufficient opportunities were created.

Her remarks came as the Congress intensified its criticism of the government over employment, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge also raising the issue on Monday. Kharge questioned the employment prospects of graduates and accused the Centre of weakening the path between education and jobs. The Opposition has repeatedly sought to make unemployment, the quality of jobs and vacancies in government departments central political issues, arguing that headline economic growth has not translated into enough secure and well-paying employment.

Report flags youth challenge

The NITI Aayog report has highlighted the scale of the challenge posed by young Indians who are neither studying nor working. Apart from the size of the NEET population, the findings draw attention to barriers that prevent young people from moving smoothly from classrooms into the labour market. The problem is especially significant for women. Domestic responsibilities, limited mobility, social constraints and a shortage of suitable employment opportunities have been identified among the factors keeping many young women outside education, employment and training.

The findings have also renewed debate over the gap between academic qualifications and the requirements of the labour market. The challenge is not limited to creating more jobs but extends to ensuring that education and skills correspond with available employment opportunities.

Priyanka said the numbers should force the government to reassess its approach towards employment generation rather than relying on claims of economic expansion.

The government, however, has previously pointed to official labour-force data to argue that the overall unemployment rate has declined in recent years. It has also cited increases in workforce participation and employment as evidence that the labour market has strengthened.

The latest political confrontation is therefore likely to sharpen the wider debate over how India measures unemployment and, more importantly, whether the jobs being generated are sufficient in number, quality and wages for a rapidly changing workforce.