Economy
Govt jobs lure younger rural workers, older generations prefer salaried roles
Summary
Among those who are seeking to re-enter the paid workforce, 73% of men and 77% of women prefer salaried jobs, with women slightly more inclined towards private salaried jobs, shows a report. How does job preference among youth change across gender and age in rural India? Mint exploresIn India, the allure of government jobs, known for their stability and benefits, is particularly strong among younger men and women in rural areas who are looking to re-enter the paid workforce. However, this preference wanes among the older population who are willing to take on any salaried work, according to the “State of Rural Youth Employment" report by Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), Global Development Incubator (GDI), and Transforming Rural India (TRI).
Among rural men aged 18-25, 31% prefer government jobs, while 28% of women in the same age bracket express the same preference. This interest drops significantly to 19% for men and 11% for women in the 26-35 age group. The data is based on a survey of 5,169 rural youth who were unemployed, unemployed, underemployed, or not taking any form of education or skilling programmes.
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The report noted that rural youth, in general, show a strong inclination towards salaried jobs, with minimal interest in entrepreneurship or running a business.
Employment trends
According to the 2022-23 Periodic Labour Force Survey, only 14% of men and 8% of women in the rural workforce are regular wage or salaried workers. This is in stark contrast to urban areas, where 47% of men and 51% of women hold such positions.
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For those seeking to re-enter the paid workforce, 73% of men and 77% of women prefer salaried jobs, with a slight preference among women for private sector positions. However, this trend shifts among first-time job seekers, where 76% of men seek salaried jobs compared to just 50% of women. Notably, self-employment is a significant preference among older women.
Women's aspirations
The aspirations of first-time female job seekers vary by age. Approximately 30% of women aged 18-25 prefer salaried government jobs, a figure that plummets to 6.6% among those aged 26-35. Conversely, only 16.2% of younger women favour self-employment, while this preference jumps to 32.5% among older women.
“This could be indicative of women preferring self-employment due to increasing social and domestic duties as they grow older, manifesting as an increasing preference for self-employment with flexible working hours, the ability to work from home," the report said.
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Despite the aspirational nature of the rural workforce, with 70-85% of those currently employed seeking a change, significant barriers remain. The report identifies a lack of financial and familial support, along with limited rural opportunities, as major challenges for youth looking to enter and remain in the workforce.
