State of Rural Youth Employment Report 2024

Table of Contents

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

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.

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.