Employment In India

India's April unemployment rate increases to 5.2%, shows govt data

A Reuters poll had projected the April unemployment rate at 5.2%

Industry must rethink talent pitch if it can't attract youth: MCA Secy

MCA Secretary Deepti Gaur Mukerjee said companies must reflect on the quality of internships and workplace appeal under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme

VB-G RAM G replacing MGNREGA to come into force across India from July 1

The Centre has notified the VB-G RAM G Act, replacing MGNREGA from July 1, 2026, with a 125 day rural employment guarantee and expanded infrastructure creation mandate

Women-led households linked to better quality jobs: SBI Research

SBI Research analysis of PLFS 2025 data found women-headed households are associated with higher regular wage employment and lower dependence on casual labour

PMEGP scheme creates 3.6 mn jobs, boosts micro-enterprises: MSME ministry

The MSME ministry said PMEGP created 3.6 million jobs and helped set up over 400,000 micro-enterprises during the 15th Finance Commission period, with strong focus on rural areas

Labour Codes face friction from state law overlaps, says experts

Overlaps between Labour Codes and state laws on working hours, leave and overtime may create compliance uncertainty, especially for firms operating across multiple states

In open letter to PM, Bernstein flags structural risks to India's growth

Global brokerage Bernstein cautions India may under-deliver on growth potential without reforms, flagging risks from AI disruption, weak manufacturing gains and rising welfare spending

It's 'jobs first' in Panapakkam: Locals push for hiring, better facilities

Industrial projects lift Panapakkam's profile, but locals demand jobs, storage facilities and water security as key election issues

Improving job quality: India needs to generate more productive employment

Revamped PLFS offers sharper labour data, but reveals a deeper concern-India's workforce remains trapped in low-quality jobs with weak wage growth

ISF elects new leadership as contract staffing expands across sectors

Indian Staffing Federation names new leadership for 2026-28 as contract staffing expands across sectors, supported by rising demand and policy engagement

84% employers looking to sustain or increase their workforce in H1FY27

Hiring sentiment improves across sectors, with most employers planning workforce expansion or stability, even as cost pressures from labour codes reshape compensation strategies

Best of BS Opinion: Job crisis and oil shocks converge on India's economy

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Many Opposition-ruled states have provisioned VB G RAM G funds: Chouhan

Chouhan also said that the Opposition's protest against VB G RAM G has failed to garner any public support because the country has accepted it as a better scheme than its previous version (MGNREGA)

India expands higher education access, but jobs gap remains: Report

India has made substantial progress in expanding access to higher education for youth in the last four decades, helping them move from agriculture to industry and services, and reduced gender and caste-based disparities, a report said. However, the 'State of Working India 2026' report stated that the challenges remain and the extent to which the large, increasingly educated, and aspirational cohort is absorbed into the labour market will determine whether India's demographic dividend translates into an economic dividend. India has made substantial progress in expanding access to higher education for its young (15- to 29-year-old) population, ensuring a movement out of agriculture into industry and services, and reduced gender and caste-based disparities, it stated. "More young people today are educated, informed, and ambitious than ever before. These are real achievements of which we can be proud," noted Indu Prasad, President, Azim Premji University in a statement. The report dra

Unemployment dips marginally to 4.9% in February, shows govt survey

Overall unemployment among persons aged 15 years and above fell marginally to 4.9 per cent in February from 5 per cent in January this year, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released on Monday. After an increase in January 2026, the urban unemployment rate (UR) among persons aged 15 years and above declined to 6.6 per cent in February 2026, falling below the December 2025 level (6.7%), the survey stated. Rural UR remained unchanged at 4.2 per cent in February 2026. In February 2026, the overall unemployment rate (UR) among females aged 15 years and above declined to 5.1 per cent, compared to 5.6 per cent in January, 2026. Decline was observed in both rural and urban areas. The urban female UR decreased from 9.8 per cent in January 2026 to 8.7 per cent in February 2026, while the rural female UR declined from 4.3 per cent to 4.0 per cent during the same period. The overall male UR remained stable at 4.8 per cent. The overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFP

Flexi-staffing industry growth falls to three-quarter low in Q3FY26

Sequential growth in India's flexi-staffing sector slowed to 0.5 per cent in Q3 FY26 as firms paused hiring amid labour code implementation, according to an ISF report

India's hiring outlook hits record high for April-June quarter: Report

Indian employers reported a strengthening of hiring intentions for the April-June quarter of this year, supported by surging business confidence and resilient domestic demand, a survey said on Tuesday. According to ManpowerGroup's latest Employment Outlook Survey, the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q2 2026 hit a record high of 68 per cent, up 17 points from the previous quarter and rising 24 points year-over-year. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity. The Employment Outlook Survey was of more than 3,000 employers across India, conducted from January 1 to February 3, 2026. As per the report, the combination of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and strong economic growth projections for 2026 provides a solid foundation for businesses. Furthermore, improving trade prospects, such as India-EU agreeme

Employer must pay penalty for delay in compensation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has fastened the liability to pay penalty on an employer for a delay in depositing the compensation amount under the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923, saying the law is a "social welfare statute" for redressing employees' grievances. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale said in a catena of judgments, the apex court has stressed the "liberal and purposive interpretation" of the Act in favour of the employees being a social-welfare legislation. The bench delivered its verdict on an appeal filed by an insurance firm, challenging a May 2025 order of the Delhi High Court. The high court had fastened the liability of paying the penalty imposed under section 4A(3)(b) of the Act on the insurance firm. "The perusal of the statement of objects of the said legislation makes it crystal clear that the said legislation is a social welfare statute brought in by Parliament to redress the grievances of the employees in case of accidents that may occur in or during the

Budget 2026: Centre allocates ₹30K cr for MGNREGA to clear pending dues

New Act to be notified from April 1, giving states six months to transition and notify it individually

Labour codes to boost jobs, corporate investment needed: Eco Survey

Effective implementation of Labour Codes will play a key role in boosting formal employment and enhancing security for women and gig workers, the Economic Survey for 2025-26 stated, while outlining the need for investment and coordination from private sector companies. The document, tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, noted that four codes were notified (on November 21, 2025), and rules are expected to be in place in the next few months. The Survey suggested that as definitions of work continue to evolve, dynamic labour policy and flexible regulatory frameworks would ensure employment expansion, worker security and well-being. "Implementing the Codes marks the first step towards the labour market transformation. The transition will require coordination and investment from the private sector," it pointed out. The pre-Budget document suggested that the companies must enhance their systems, update policies, reevaluate workforce models, and improve