Op-ed: Unemployment has fallen, but India's jobs remain far from 'decent work'
In one line: An article in The Hindu argues that India's falling unemployment rate hides weak job quality, shown by a Decent Work Index that rose only from 0.247 to 0.302.
Published 2 November 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
An article in The Hindu on 2 November 2026 argues that India's falling unemployment rate hides a deficit of "decent work". Official Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data show that unemployment among people aged 15 and above fell from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24, and the female labour force participation rate rose from 23.3% to 41.7%. The writers say these numbers count jobs but say little about their quality, and that it is time to measure how secure and protected work actually is.
Using PLFS data, the writers built a Decent Work Index (DWI) from three dimensions: employment status, employment opportunity and social security. Across five industries (agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and transport), the index rose only from 0.247 to 0.302. Manufacturing improved most, from 0.324 to 0.411, and transport from 0.285 to 0.35. Agriculture, the largest employer, rose from 0.211 to 0.267. The writers report that job quality for women from marginalised social groups declined even as men's improved, and that Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Haryana did better while Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh lagged.
The article cites the India Employment Report 2024 of the ILO and the Institute for Human Development, which found nearly 90% of workers informally employed. It notes that the four Labour Codes, in force since 21 November 2025, aimed at simpler rules and wider protection, but implementation is partial and critics say compliance has eased for business while worker protection may have weakened. The writers propose portable social protection for gig, platform and informal workers beyond e-Shram registration, linking tax incentives to written contracts, paid leave and social security, and childcare and safe transport for women.
Prelims facts
- PLFS unemployment (usual status, 15+) fell from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24; female LFPR rose from 23.3% to 41.7%.
- A Decent Work Index built from PLFS data rose only from 0.247 to 0.302 across five industries.
- Agriculture, the largest employer, had the lowest index (0.211 to 0.267); manufacturing improved most (0.324 to 0.411).
- The India Employment Report 2024 (ILO and IHD) found nearly 90% of workers informally employed.
- The four Labour Codes took effect on 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws.
Quick recall
- PLFS unemployment rate (usual status, 15+) in 2023-24?
- 3.2%, down from 6.0% in 2017-18.
- Female labour force participation rate (PLFS, 15+), 2017-18 and 2023-24?
- 23.3% and 41.7%.
- Three dimensions of the Decent Work Index in The Hindu article?
- Employment status, employment opportunity and social security.
- Overall Decent Work Index change reported?
- From 0.247 to 0.302.
- Which sector had the lowest Decent Work Index?
- Agriculture, rising only from 0.211 to 0.267.
- Who published the India Employment Report 2024?
- The ILO and the Institute for Human Development (IHD).
- When did the four Labour Codes take effect?
- 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws.
- Aggregator contribution under the Code on Social Security, 2020?
- 1% to 2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of the amount paid to gig and platform workers.
Prelims practice question
With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), consider the following statements:
1. It is conducted by the National Statistics Office.
2. Its annual reports use the usual status approach.
3. According to PLFS, the female labour force participation rate (15 years and above) was higher in 2023-24 than in 2017-18.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are correct. PLFS is run by the NSO under MoSPI; annual estimates use usual status; female LFPR rose from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: Employment quality, informalisation and labour reform
- How to use this
Use the decent work evidence to argue that informalisation is detrimental: jobs are being added, but without contracts, social security or improving quality.
- Nearly 90% of India's workers are informally employed, according to the India Employment Report 2024 of the ILO and IHD.
- A Decent Work Index from PLFS data rose only from 0.247 to 0.302 even as unemployment fell from 6.0% to 3.2%.
- Agriculture, the largest employer, scores lowest on decent work (0.267); many workers lack contracts, paid leave or provident fund.
- How to use this
Use for the demerits and progress parts: the Codes are in force, but critics say protection has lagged behind ease of compliance.
- The four Labour Codes took effect on 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws.
- The Code on Social Security, 2020 requires aggregators to contribute 1% to 2% of turnover for gig and platform workers.
- Critics say compliance has eased for business while worker protection may have weakened, with implementation still partial.
The question is about managing unemployment for the poor; the decent work data add a job-quality dimension.
Mains practice question
Falling unemployment in India has not been matched by an improvement in the quality of work. Examine with reference to informality and the experience of women, and suggest measures to promote decent work. (250 words)
Model answer
PLFS data show unemployment falling from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24, but a Decent Work Index reported in The Hindu (2 November 2026) rose only from 0.247 to 0.302, showing that job quality lags job quantity.
Why quality lags
- Informality: the India Employment Report 2024 (ILO and IHD) found nearly 90% of workers informally employed.
- Sectoral gaps: agriculture, the largest employer, scored 0.267; manufacturing 0.411.
- Missing protection: many workers lack written contracts, paid leave, provident fund or insurance.
- New forms of work: contractualisation, outsourcing and gig work add jobs without security.
The experience of women
- Female labour force participation rose from 23.3% to 41.7% (PLFS).
- The index shows job quality falling for women from marginalised social groups even as men's improved.
- Regional gaps: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Haryana fare better; Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh lag.
Measures for decent work
- Implement the Code on Social Security, 2020 fully, including aggregator contributions of 1% to 2% of turnover for gig workers.
- Portable benefits that follow workers across jobs, going beyond e-Shram registration.
- Conditional incentives: link subsidies and tax breaks to contracts, paid leave and social security.
- Women-specific support: childcare, safe transport and protection from workplace discrimination.
- Better metrics: track job quality alongside the unemployment rate, in line with SDG 8 and the ILO's Decent Work Agenda.
Conclusion
For Viksit Bharat, India must move from counting jobs to building decent ones; social protection and job quality must become targets in their own right.
The basics
Why this matters
India's unemployment rate has fallen to about 3%, and women's participation in work has risen sharply. An article in The Hindu on 2 November 2026 argues that these headline numbers hide poor job quality. For UPSC, this is the difference between counting jobs and measuring decent work, a theme that runs through GS1 (women, poverty), GS2 (welfare) and GS3 (employment).
What official data show
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), launched by the National Sample Survey Office in April 2017, is India's main source of jobs data. On the usual status measure for people aged 15 and above, unemployment fell from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24. The female labour force participation rate rose from 23.3% to 41.7% over the same years.
Measuring decent work
The writers built a Decent Work Index (DWI) from PLFS data, combining three dimensions: employment status, employment opportunity and social security. A score near 0 means poor quality; a score near 1 means good quality. They studied five industries: agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and transport.
- 1Employment statusIs the worker a regular employee, casual worker or self-employed?
- 2Employment opportunityIs work available and adequate?
- 3Social securityDoes the job come with a contract, paid leave, provident fund or insurance?
What the index found
The overall DWI rose only from 0.247 to 0.302. Manufacturing improved most, from 0.324 to 0.411, which the writers link to formalisation and digitalisation. Transport rose from 0.285 to 0.35. Agriculture, which employs the most people, stayed weakest, rising from 0.211 to 0.267.
Who is left behind
The writers report that job quality for women from marginalised social groups fell even as men's improved. Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Haryana did better; Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh lagged. Nearly 90% of workers are informally employed, according to the India Employment Report 2024. Read on: ILO's Decent Work Agenda, Periodic Labour Force Survey and Code on Social Security, 2020.
Go deeper
Why it matters for UPSC
Mains often asks about jobless growth, informalisation, women's work and labour reform. This piece gives a measurable way to say that the number of jobs is not the same as their quality.
The core idea
The idea of decent work comes from the ILO's Decent Work Agenda: work that is productive and fairly paid, with security, rights and social protection. The writers use data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey to score jobs on employment status, opportunity and social security. Informality remains very high, as the India Employment Report 2024 found. The Code on Social Security, 2020 is meant to extend protection to gig, platform and unorganised workers, but critics say protection lags.
Numbers and dates to remember
- Unemployment (PLFS, usual status, 15+): 6.0% in 2017-18, 3.2% in 2023-24
- Female labour force participation: 23.3% to 41.7% over the same years
- Decent Work Index: 0.247 to 0.302; manufacturing 0.324 to 0.411; agriculture 0.211 to 0.267
- Nearly 90% of workers informally employed (India Employment Report 2024)
- Four Labour Codes in force from 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central laws
Where to go next
- ILO's Decent Work Agenda: what "decent work" means and where it comes from
- Periodic Labour Force Survey: how India measures jobs and unemployment
- India Employment Report 2024: the ILO and IHD report on informality and youth jobs
- Code on Social Security, 2020: the law meant to cover gig and unorganised workers
Go deeper: Jobs count or job quality?
The optimistic reading. Official Periodic Labour Force Survey data show unemployment halving from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24 and women's participation rising from 23.3% to 41.7%. Manufacturing's Decent Work Index rose from 0.324 to 0.411, a sign that formalisation and digitalisation are improving some jobs.
The writers' critique. Counting people who have some work says little about whether that work is secure. The overall index rose only to 0.302, and agriculture, the biggest employer, scored 0.267. Many workers, even in improving sectors, lack written contracts, paid leave, provident fund or insurance. The India Employment Report 2024 found nearly 90% of workers informally employed. Women from marginalised social groups saw job quality fall even as men's improved.
The Labour Codes debate. The four Labour Codes took effect on 21 November 2025. Supporters say they simplify 29 laws and extend social security, including to gig workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020. The writers say critics see easier compliance for business but weaker protection for workers, with implementation still partial.
What the writers propose. Portable social protection for gig, platform and informal workers, since e-Shram registration alone is not protection. Linking tax incentives and subsidies to written contracts, paid leave and social security contributions. Childcare, safe transport and anti-discrimination measures for women from marginalised groups. In short, they ask that labour markets be judged by the standard of the ILO's Decent Work Agenda, not by the unemployment rate alone.
ILO's Decent Work Agenda
Where the idea of decent work comes from
In one line: The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines decent work as productive work that delivers a fair income, security at work, social protection, rights and equal opportunity.
The four pillars
The ILO's Decent Work Agenda, set out in 1999, rests on four pillars: employment creation, social protection, rights at work and social dialogue between workers, employers and government. Gender equality cuts across all four.
Where it shows up
Decent work is part of Sustainable Development Goal 8, "Decent work and economic growth". India is a founding member of the ILO, set up in 1919.
Why it is in the news
The Hindu article applies this idea to India by building a Decent Work Index from survey data, and finds that job quality has improved far less than unemployment figures suggest.
Where to go next
Periodic Labour Force Survey
The survey behind India's jobs numbers
In one line: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is the National Statistics Office's household survey of employment and unemployment, launched in 2017.
What it measures
PLFS gives the labour force participation rate (people working or seeking work), the worker population ratio and the unemployment rate. Annual results use the "usual status" approach, based on a reference year; quarterly urban bulletins and, more recently, monthly estimates use the "current weekly status", based on the last seven days.
Key numbers
For people aged 15 and above, unemployment fell from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24, and the female labour force participation rate rose from 23.3% to 41.7%.
Why it is in the news
The decent work study uses PLFS unit-level data to score not just whether people work but how secure and protected their work is.
Where to go next
- ILO's Decent Work Agenda
- India Employment Report 2024
Periodic Labour Force Survey: every story that connects to it (4)
India Employment Report 2024
The benchmark report on informality and youth jobs
In one line: The India Employment Report 2024, released in March 2024 by the ILO and the Institute for Human Development (IHD), found that nearly 90% of India's workers are informally employed.
Main findings
Employment is dominated by self-employment and casual work. Casual wages rose modestly between 2012 and 2022, while real wages of regular workers stagnated or fell. Female participation, after falling for years, rose from 2019, especially in rural areas. Youth unemployment rose from 5.7% in 2000 to 17.5% in 2019 before falling to 12.1% in 2022.
What it recommended
Action on job creation, job quality, labour market inequalities, skills and active labour market policies, and better labour data.
Why it is in the news
The Hindu article cites the report's informality finding to argue that falling unemployment has not brought decent work.
Where to go next
Code on Social Security, 2020
The law meant to extend protection to gig and informal workers
In one line: The Code on Social Security, 2020 is one of four Labour Codes that took effect on 21 November 2025, together replacing 29 central labour laws.
What it does
It brings provident fund, insurance, maternity and other benefits under one law, and for the first time defines gig workers, platform workers and aggregators. Governments can frame schemes for life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits and old-age protection for these workers. Aggregators must contribute 1% to 2% of their annual turnover to a social security fund, capped at 5% of what they pay gig and platform workers.
The other three Codes
The Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
Why it is in the news
The decent work article says implementation is partial and calls for portable social protection that goes beyond e-Shram registration.
Where to go next
- ILO's Decent Work Agenda
- India Employment Report 2024
Code on Social Security, 2020: every story that connects to it (4)
Take the 2 November 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers