Changing landscape of employment opportunities Pre and Post Covid-19: Evidence from the Indian Labour Market

Abstract

The employment landscape in India preceding the pandemic reflected a dynamic interplay between robust growth and persistent challenges. While the formal sector, particularly in IT and financial services, experienced a surge in salaried employment fueled by factors like rising domestic demand and foreign investment, the informal sector, employing the majority of the workforce, faced stagnation with low wages and precarious conditions. Government initiatives like Skill India and Make in India aimed to address these issues, but concerns persisted, including youth unemployment and gender disparities. The pandemic disrupted the employment harmony, with formal jobs faltering, the gig economy booming, and rural areas relying on agriculture. New sectors like healthcare and digital services emerged, but questions about job quality and youth unemployment lingered. The chapter emphasizes the need for a visionary conductor to align skills with emerging needs, promote decent work, and create an inclusive future for dignified and secure lives in the evolving Indian job market