Maarg Manthan · Topic 18.5

State of Working India Report

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Important Reports, Indices and Surveys · Topic 18.5

The State of Working India (SWI) report is a flagship research report on India's labour market published by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. It is not a government report. Editions have appeared in 2018, 2019, 2021 on the pandemic, 2023 on social identities and labour market outcomes, and 2026 on youth, titled Youth in the Labour Market: Pathways from learning to earning, released on 17 March 2026. The 2026 report found, as reported, that unemployment among graduates aged 15 to 25 is close to 40 per cent, while only about 7 per cent of young male graduates reach permanent salaried work within a year.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Important Reports, Indices and Surveys

At a Glance

Publisher Centre for Sustainable Employment, Azim Premji University
Editions 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2026
2023 theme Social identities and labour market
2026 theme Youth in the labour market
Nature Independent research report
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Important Reports, Indices and Surveys

Where Does It Fit?

This topic reads together with the labour force survey, because SWI uses its data to analyse jobs. It also relates to the Economic Survey view on employment and the poverty index on living standards. Previous topic: India Justice Report. Next topic: Survey of India, Dehradun Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change Frequency Biennial, from 1987 Latest verified…">India State of Forest Report (ISFR).

What Are the Editions of the State of Working India?

Edition	Focus
State of Working India 2018	First report. Looked at employment, wages and informality over the previous decades, with the lead author Amit Basole
State of Working India 2019	Update on the labour market, including the data gap on employment
State of Working India 2021: One Year of Covid-19	Impact of the pandemic and lockdown on jobs, incomes and poverty
State of Working India 2023: Social Identities and Labour Market Outcomes	Gaps in work outcomes by caste, religion and gender
State of Working India 2026: Youth in the Labour Market	Subtitle Pathways from learning to earning. Released on 17 March 2026 at Delhi with Rosa Abraham as lead author, as reported
Publisher	All editions come from the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University and use public data such as PLFS

What Did the 2026 Report Say About Youth?

Youth population: The 15 to 29 age group numbers about 36.7 crore, about one third of the working-age population, as reported
Education gains: Education levels among young people, especially women, have risen sharply over four decades
Graduate unemployment: Unemployment is close to 40 per cent for graduates aged 15 to 25 and about 20 per cent for those aged 25 to 29, as reported
Job quality: About half of young male graduates who were unemployed found work within a year, but only about 7 per cent got permanent salaried jobs, as reported
Vocational training: Expansion of Industrial Training Institutes since the 2000s has been linked with weaker quality, as reported
Demographic window: The working-age share of the population is expected to start falling after about 2030, narrowing the demographic dividend
Policy angle: The report argues for better links between education and jobs and for creating more regular, well-paid employment
Verification: Figures are as reported from the release and coverage, and some methods have drawn comments from other economists, so readers should check the report

What Else Should You Remember?

Institution: Azim Premji University is a private, not-for-profit university set up in Bengaluru under a state law in 2010. It is not part of the government
Data used: The report relies on the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the National Statistical Office, among other sources, as in Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
Informality: Most Indian workers are in informal employment without a written contract or social security, a theme across all editions
Regular wage work: The share of regular salaried jobs rose after 2017 but real earnings of regular workers did not grow as fast, as reported in earlier editions
Gender: Female labour force participation is low compared with men, and the 2023 edition showed how caste and religion shape work outcomes
Policy link: Employment schemes and skilling programmes respond to these themes, as in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Exam angle: Questions ask for the cause of jobless growth, the nature of informality and the effect of education on employment
Use in Mains: Cite the 2026 report as one view among others, together with PLFS and the Economic Survey, as in Economic Survey of India (Annual)
Related surveys: The India Employment Report of the International Labour Organization and the Institute for Human Development gives another view of youth jobs
Common mistakes: Calling SWI a government report or mixing its editions and themes

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Publisher: Azim Premji University, Centre for Sustainable Employment
Editions: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2026
2026 theme: Youth in the labour market
Concept: Informality and graduate unemployment
Common errors: Calling it a government or NSO publication

As an analytical point, rising education without matching job growth creates frustration among young graduates. The solution lies in raising the supply of good jobs through manufacturing, services and skills, along with better matching of education to demand.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Publisher Common one-liner
Youth Graduate unemployment
Mains Jobs and education

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the India State of Forest Report. Next topic: India State of Forest Report (ISFR).

Key People and Terms

Informal employment Work without contract or benefits
Graduate unemployment Joblessness among degree holders
Demographic dividend Gain from a large working-age population
Regular wage Salaried work with a contract
ITI Industrial Training Institute
Jobless growth Output growth with weak job growth

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Publisher: Azim Premji University.
Editions: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2026.
2026: released 17 March 2026.
Graduate unemployment near 40 per cent for ages 15 to 25, as reported.
Independent, not government.

Do Not Confuse With

SWI and PLFS Research report versus official survey
SWI and India Employment Report Azim Premji University versus ILO and IHD
SWI 2023 and 2026 Social identities versus youth

Memory Hook

Azim Premji counts jobs: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, then 2026 for youth.

Mains Angle

Mains questions ask about the youth and jobs challenge. These points give a balanced frame.

Problem Educated but jobless
Cause Weak job creation
Way Skills and good jobs

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Why do educated young Indians face high unemployment despite rising education levels? Discuss with reference to recent labour market reports.”

How to Answer

Data Graduate unemployment.
Cause Few good jobs.
Gap Skills mismatch.
Way Jobs and skills.

GS Relevance

Prelims: publisher and theme of SWI editions. GS Paper 3: employment, informal sector, skills. GS Paper 2: youth, inclusion and human resource development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the State of Working India report?

The State of Working India is a flagship report on India's labour market published by the Centre for Sustainable Employment at Azim Premji University. Editions have appeared in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2026. It analyses employment, wages, informality and inequality using public data such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey.

Who publishes the State of Working India report?

Azim Premji University in Bengaluru publishes the State of Working India through its Centre for Sustainable Employment. It is an independent research report and is not an official government publication, unlike the Economic Survey or the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the National Statistical Office.

What is the latest State of Working India report?

The latest is State of Working India 2026, titled Youth in the Labour Market: Pathways from learning to earning, released on 17 March 2026. As reported, it found near 40 per cent unemployment among graduates aged 15 to 25 and only about 7 per cent of young male graduates reaching permanent salaried work.

What did State of Working India 2023 cover?

State of Working India 2023 was titled Social Identities and Labour Market Outcomes. It examined how caste, religion and gender affect access to jobs, earnings and quality of work in India, and showed that disadvantaged groups face gaps in regular salaried employment even after accounting for education.

How does State of Working India relate to PLFS?

The State of Working India uses unit-level data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey, run by the National Statistical Office, along with other sources. PLFS is the official source for labour statistics, while the report is an independent analysis, so its conclusions can differ from the official reading.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The State of Working India report is published by the National Statistical Office.

False

It is published by Azim Premji University.

2 State of Working India 2023 focused on social identities and labour market outcomes.

True

The 2026 edition focused on youth.

3 State of Working India 2026 was released in March 2026.