The Hindu Business Line : More employment opportunities need to be generated: Report

Worrying factors
Country to have 211 million unemployed in 2020, an unemployment rate of 30 per cent
Unemployment will be a youth problem with 90 per cent falling in the 15-29 age group
Labour laws have remained untouched for 20 years
Currently there are more than 2500 Central and 25,000 State laws

Bangalore , Aug. 16

The country's current demographic advantage (567 million people between 20-59 years of age) may be the focus of all India-based papers and presentations made today. But the lead may turn into empty claims if it does not create enough education and employment opportunities for those entering the job market.The India Labour Report 2006, researched and released by TeamLease Services, a temp staffing company, predicts a not-so-rosy picture of the employment scenario in the coming years. Out of the 716 million who will enter the job market by 2020, hardly 88 million will be graduates and 76 million will have higher secondary school education. Thus about 160 million will fall into the employable bracket.

Says Mr Manish Sabharwal, Chairman, TeamLease Services, "We need to generate a range of additional employment opportunities and rapidly improve the skill and education base of those in the labour force now."

The report also points out that employment in the organised sector has actually not grown at the rate expected. In 2001, out of the country's 402 million workforce, only about seven per cent were in the organised sector, a growth of four per cent over the previous decade. On the other hand, employment in the unorganised sector grew by 30.29 per cent in the 1990s.

"And the unorganised sector is completely outside the purview of most labour laws and liberalisation will also involve extending protection to labour in this sector," says Mr Sabharwal.

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