Even as unemployment falls, India lacks ‘decent work’.

“Even in sectors where employment conditions have improved, access to social security remains limited.” | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ithis is itunemployment the rate fell from 6.1% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24. At the same time, women’s labor force participation increased for the first time in decades, as was widely reported in government documents. In light of these positive developments, it is a good time to ask what jobs have been created in India recently and what working conditions accompany them.

This is important because employment it does not in itself guarantee dignity, security or a stable livelihood. A garment worker without a formal contract, a gig worker without insurance coverage, or a construction worker without paid vacation may technically be considered employed, but they remain outside the promise of decent work. The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines “decent work” as employment that offers fair income, workplace rights, social security and dignity. This principle is incorporated into Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG-8), which advocates “decent work for all”. Measured in this way, India’s labor market consistently exhibits high levels of informality, precarious employment and increasing inequality.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 0:27 IST