Data & Insights

As global labour markets continue to undergo transition induced by rapid technological advancement and climate change, there is not enough research that captures the diverse experiences of the Global South. The FutureWORKS Collective, funded by IDRC Canada, is a consortium of research organisations that will fill this lacuna. The JustJobs Network is proud to be the coordinator of this initiative that underscores the urgency of adapting research and policies to the realities of the Global South.

Sabina Dewan in conversation with Govindraj Ethiraj of The Core on recent labour union strikes and related labour market trends and laws (episode #398, 12:07). She highlights the need for authentic social dialogue for effective application and implementation of labour regulations, and reasons why worker protests are becoming more prominent and frequent. She addresses the question of role of private sector and governments in ensuring worker protection and fostering inclusivity in rapidly changing labour markets. Listen to The Core podcast on rising yet diverging markets.

JJN’s Sabina Dewan writes on the urgent need to bridge the gap between growth and quality of jobs for the Indian working-age population. Labour market in India is failing to generate enough high-quality jobs for its large and growing population; at the same time employers struggle to find workers with the right skills for the job openings they have. Highlighting the growing extent of precarity in the nature of available work in the country, she makes the case for adopting a ground-up approach for job creation.

JJN’s Sabina Dewan writes on the expanding e-commerce ecosystem in India and its effect on MSMEs of the country. From the perspective of micro, small and medium enterprises, that are dealing with tech disruptions to stay in business and the 111 million jobs they support, she calls for appropriate and effective regulations to enable more inclusive growth of e-commerce.

Karnataka's 'Koosina Mane' scheme is an important intervention that aims to improve women's labour force participation by shifting a part of childcare responsibilities outside the household. It remains to be seen whether the initiative has the desired impact on women's employment outcomes.

The building and construction sector in India is marred with inherent contradictions – it is at once an employment generator and a highly polluting sector. It stresses the question: How do we balance human needs without compromising earth systems?

The construction sector has been a critical sector in a developing country like India from an employment generation perspective. This data-story presents insights on and trends in the construction sector in Maharashtra.

India's approach towards renewables should not be focused on meeting international standards of emissions alone, but it should weigh in on the larger impact of renewables in providing energy access to the poorest and creating quality jobs.