Graduate Unemployment Surges as Employment Remains Flat

Mumbai, August 13 – A fresh statistical release by the Ministry of Statistics has ignited a debate over India’s employment health. Shiv Sena (UBT) used the numbers to underline a paradox: the nation’s economy is touted as a $5 trillion powerhouse, yet the job market shows no net addition over the last twelve months.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey indicates that the unemployment rate has barely shifted, standing at 5.5 percent compared with 5.6 percent a year earlier. Regular wage earners constitute 51.4 percent of the workforce, a slight increase from June’s 51.2 percent, and women’s share rose from 32 percent to 32.7 percent. Rural employment continues to decline.

Supporters of the ruling party argue that a stable unemployment rate showcases a resilient economy. Shiv Sena (UBT) counters this view, pointing to a stark rise in graduate unemployment. The number of graduates has surged to 63 million – a thirteen‑fold increase over four decades – while the count of unemployed graduates has expanded sixteen times during the same period. Currently, six out of every ten graduates are without work.

Citing research from Ajeet Premji University, the editorial notes that two‑thirds of unemployed youth hold a degree, yet only twelve out of a thousand job seekers secure a permanent position. This data directly challenges Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s claim of creating 1.7 crore jobs annually.

Shiv Sena (UBT) concluded that despite the government’s lofty economic claims, the ground reality for educated job‑seekers is grim, with the promised two‑crore‑jobs‑per‑year target remaining unmet and the future of millions of graduates uncertain.