Three Crore People Gained Employment in Two Years; Significant Improvement in Women’s Workforce Participation
According to a report by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India saw remarkable employment growth over the last two years. After the setback of the COVID-19 period (2020–21), when 2.28 crore people lost jobs, the country added 3.06 crore new workers in 2023–24 and 2024–25.
The report highlighted that not only did employment numbers recover, but there was also a notable improvement in women’s participation in the workforce. Out of the total new employment generated in the past two years, 1.28 crore jobs were secured by women.
The working-age population in the country also increased by 4.14 crore during this period. However, despite the progress, around 50 lakh people remained unemployed.
Shift from Agriculture to Non-Agricultural Employment
The report noted that while migration away from agriculture continued, non-agricultural sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and services absorbed the majority of the new workforce.
In 2023–24 alone, agriculture lost 1.10 crore workers, while non-farm sectors gained 1.55 crore. In 2024–25, agricultural employment shrank by 1.02 crore, while non-agricultural employment rose by 1.43 crore.
Urban Areas Drove Growth
Urban regions played a major role in driving employment growth. Sectors like manufacturing and services contributed significantly to job creation, compensating for losses in rural areas.
Impact of Automation
However, technological advancements also led to job reductions. For instance, call centres and similar operations reportedly shed around 1.95 lakh jobs over the two years.
Digital Platforms Also Created Opportunities
On the other hand, platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and e-commerce companies contributed to employment generation. The rapid adoption of digital platforms provided new income sources for many workers.
Overall, the total working population rose from 45.5 crore in 2022–23 to 49.6 crore in 2024–25. The number of employed women increased from 15.1 crore in 2022–23 to 16.4 crore in 2024–25.
