📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mala Mukerjee
Jobs & Career
Economist Jean Dreze says India's growth creates jobs but fails to boost employment
✍️ EdexLive
🗓 03 Nov 2026, 06:16 AM
👁 14
Economist Jean Dreze warned that despite robust economic growth, the surge in job openings has not translated into meaningful employment for many Indians.
Renowned economist Jean Dreze told EdexLive that India’s recent economic expansion has indeed generated a large number of job openings, yet the country continues to struggle with low overall employment levels.
Official data shows a steady rise in the count of newly created positions, but the unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high, indicating a disconnect between job creation and actual workforce absorption.
Dreze highlighted that many of the jobs being added are in the informal sector or are low‑skill roles that do not match the aspirations or qualifications of a growing segment of the labour force, leading to under‑employment.
He urged policymakers to focus on skill development, better job matching mechanisms, and incentives for formal sector hiring to ensure that economic growth translates into broader, quality employment.
Official data shows a steady rise in the count of newly created positions, but the unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high, indicating a disconnect between job creation and actual workforce absorption.
Dreze highlighted that many of the jobs being added are in the informal sector or are low‑skill roles that do not match the aspirations or qualifications of a growing segment of the labour force, leading to under‑employment.
He urged policymakers to focus on skill development, better job matching mechanisms, and incentives for formal sector hiring to ensure that economic growth translates into broader, quality employment.