Gender

Only 5% of India’s youth aged 15–29 have received formal vocational training, according to PLFS 2025 data analysed by JustJobs Network. While training is associated with higher labour force participation and better access to regular, formal employment, high unemployment among formally trained and technically qualified youth raises questions about whether the economy is creating enough suitable jobs.

India’s labour market appears to be moving in the right direction: more people are working, labour force participation is up, and unemployment is down. But there’s more to these numbers. A large part of the increase in labour force participation is coming from rural women. And much of that rise is linked to agriculture, self-employment and unpaid work. At the same time, urban women continue to have the lowest labour force participation and the highest unemployment rate among all groups. So while the headline numbers suggest progress, they also raise an important question: what kind of jobs are driving this change?

In the latest episode of The Migration Story podcast, JustJobs Network's Isha Gupta unpacks how the recent Tiruvallur ammonia gas leak tragedy reveals deeper systemic issues in India's interstate labour migration. From informal recruitment networks and missing worker records to language barriers, employer-provided accommodation, and gaps in labour protections, the conversation examines why workplace safety cannot be separated from the broader migration journey.

A new survey shows that nearly 69% of non-working urban women in India have left their jobs mainly because of childcare and household duties. In comparison, just 3.8% of men say the same. This gap points to how social expectations still put most caregiving on women, making it tough for them to stay in the workforce.

As per National Statistics Office's recent survey, nearly 69 percent of non-working urban women cite childcare and domestic responsibilities as the key reason for staying out of the workforce.

India’s Gender Budget has grown steadily, yet implementation challenges persist. Drawing on fieldwork in Odisha, JJN’s researcher Kripa Krishna examines in her piece for Ideas for India on how weak local capacity, limited accountability, and gaps in last-mile delivery undermine welfare outcomes. It argues that without strengthening public systems and evaluating existing schemes, increased allocations risk falling short of translating into meaningful improvements in women’s economic empowerment.

Drawing on JJN's research, IndiaSpend quotes Renjini Rajagopalan, Research Lead, Centre for Gender Analysis at JustJobs Network, on Karnataka’s fare-free public transport scheme, Shakti Yojane. In the article, she highlights the scheme's role in expanding women’s autonomy, while emphasising the need for improved service frequency and planning.

JustJobs Network’s Study on Shakti Yojane finds the scheme expanding mobility, income security, and agency for Karnataka’s most vulnerable women — at scale.

JustJobs Network’s Study on Shakti Yojane finds the scheme expanding mobility, income security, and agency for Karnataka’s most vulnerable women — at scale.

The Chief Minister appreciated the initiative to disseminate research findings on the government’s flagship guarantee schemes.