State of Rural Youth Employment Report 2024

Context: The “State of Rural Youth Employment Report 2024” prepared by the Development Intelligence Unit (DIU) was released.

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• Research Conducted by: The Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), in collaboration with Transform Rural India (TRI), Sambodhi Research, and the Global Development Incubator (GDI).
• Survey Details: The study involved surveys of 5,169 ‘opportunity youth’ across 21 states, defining ‘opportunity youth’ as those who are unemployed or underemployed, making up 70% of all rural youth in India.

Key Findings of State of Rural Youth Employment Report 2024

• High Job Dissatisfaction: Between 70-85% of currently employed rural youth are looking to change their jobs.
• Declining Interest in Traditional Sectors: Agriculture and self-employment are no longer seen as desirable career paths by many rural youths.
• Shift Toward Salaried and Business Roles: The majority of those wanting to change jobs prefer small businesses or salaried positions in both public and private sectors.
• Gender Differences in Business Aspirations: Among those interested in starting businesses, 90% of male respondents and 50% of female respondents indicated a need for support in accessing seed capital.
  • Only 10% of respondents felt a need for a full training course.
• Perceptions of Agriculture: A majority of respondents view current agriculture as non-aspirational due to low productivity and insufficient profits.
  • Key improvements needed in agriculture include technical support for increased productivity, crop diversification support, and access to high-quality, affordable agricultural inputs.
• Local vs. Distant Employment: Over 60% of male and 70% of female respondents preferred to find work in or close to their villages, even if the income was 20-30% lower than what could be earned farther away.

Recommendations

• There is a clear preference among young people to stay within or close to their villages, despite lower income potential.
• The report emphasises the need to enhance local employment opportunities to bridge the aspiration gap in rural areas.

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