Rural youth employment 2024: 70% seek job change, gender gap highlighted

CNBC-TV18.com

Published Aug 05, 2024

By Vivek Dubey

Gender Employment Gap

Over half of rural men aged 18-25 are employed, compared to only a quarter of women in the same age bracket.

Employment Trends by Age

Among those aged 26-35, about 85% of men are employed, while 40% of women in this age group are working, with many having exited or never been in the workforce.

Gender Discrepancy

There is a clear gender disparity, with most employed individuals being male and a higher proportion of women having never worked.

Desire for Job Change

A significant 70-85% of employed youth are seeking job changes, reflecting a widespread desire for new career opportunities.

Career Aspirations

Both genders are interested in starting small businesses or ventures in manufacturing and retail, though younger women particularly favour government jobs.

Preferred Salaried Roles

Women seeking salaried roles prefer teaching and clerical jobs, while men are drawn to teaching, accounting, and factory positions.

Challenges in Vocational Work

Vocational careers lack appeal, indicating a need to enhance the status and practices associated with manual labour.

Age and Employment Preferences

Younger women (18-25) are inclined towards government positions, whereas older women (26-35) show a growing interest in self-employment, due to family responsibilities.

Role of Family Communication

A key strategy for overcoming employment challenges is effectively communicating career goals to family members.

Focus on Transferable Skills

Rural youth are increasingly developing transferable skills, including basic IT, presentation, and business etiquette, to boost their employability.

Training and Capital Needs

Of those aspiring to start businesses, 8% of women and 12% of men seek extensive training, while around 90% of men and 50% of women require support for seed capital.

Preference for Local Jobs

More than 60% of men and 70% of women prefer working within their villages rather than migrating for employment, regardless of potential income.

Career Path Aspirations

Current rural youth show limited interest in agriculture and self-employment as career paths, seeking more appealing alternatives.

Economic Opportunity Seeking

Rural youth are actively searching for new economic opportunities that align with their career goals and contribute to local development.

Support for New Ventures

A substantial portion of rural youth aiming to start small businesses seeks financial support for seed capital to realise their entrepreneurial ambitions.