Aditya Prem Kumar

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 has succeeded in getting more young people into classrooms, but getting them into quality jobs remains a challenge. Through an analysis of PLFS 2025 data, this data story examines the disconnect between education and employment and highlights the structural barriers preventing many young people, especially women, from making a successful transition into work.

India's ITI system faces a crisis of relevance, with half its seats lying vacant despite growing demand for skills. This article examines how outdated courses, gender segregation and weak alignment with labour market needs are undermining vocational education, and argues for reforms that make ITIs more inclusive and responsive to today's economy.

India's vocational training system has expanded rapidly, but weak ITIs continue to undermine skill development. This article examines the gaps in training quality, industry linkages and employment outcomes, and outlines the reforms needed to make ITIs a credible pathway to skilled jobs.

This report identifies gaps in the education-to-employment pipeline for youth. Drawing on stakeholder insights across sectors and practical experience from the ground on what works, it highlights key misalignments and offers actionable recommendations to strengthen these transitions.

JustJobs Network's Aditya Prem Kumar examines why technical skills alone are no longer enough to ensure meaningful employment for India's youth — and what it will take to close the employability gap.