Employment, Livelihoods and Human Capital
Examining all aspects of the Indian labour and higher education markets to better understand how to provide for sustainable, remunerative employment and how to promote human capital
With a young population that is increasingly finding it difficult to get jobs and a demographic bulge that is entering higher education, the outlook for employment and inclusive growth in India is challenging.
Under this theme, we will examine all aspects of the Indian labour and higher education markets to better understand how to provide for sustainable, remunerative employment and how to promote human capital for this purpose.
Work will be divided according to education and higher education on one hand, and employment on the other.
Studying labour markets and education can help identify pathways for sustainable, well-paying jobs. Our aim is to promote appropriate human capital development (across all domains) and generate ideas that can create remunerative employment to support economic inclusion.
Ongoing projects
Focus on youth unemployment and labour market transitions through several surveys, administrative data (ITI, youth migration, etc.)
Access the State of Working India reports here →
Over the past few decades, India has seen a significant expansion in its higher education sector, both in the number of colleges and universities established, and in the growing proportion of young people pursuing tertiary education. Despite this growth, persistent challenges remain around access, affordability, and quality, especially across different regions, social groups, and genders.
This vertical seeks to critically examine the evolving landscape of higher education in India and its broader implications for the labour market. Using data from enrolment records, accreditation reports, employment surveys, and other publicly available sources, the centre will explore how well the current system aligns with industry needs and socio-economic equity goals.
This vertical will try to answer questions such as: Has the rapid expansion in institutions and enrolment translated into improvements in educational quality? How can we effectively measure the quality of higher education? What are the patterns of inequality in access and attainment across caste, gender, region, and income? To what extent does college education equip students with skills relevant to the contemporary job market? Does higher education act as a leveller or amplifier of social and economic inequality?
India is facing a crisis of employment and livelihoods, and it is important to generate secure, regular, and decent incomes for the vast majority. There is an urgent need for fresh thinking that will make way for every Indian to lead a secure, dignified life in a just and sustainable way. This thinking must be both anchored in the real-world, and imaginative. The Centre for Sustainable Employment (CSE) as part of CSIE has been set up to foster fresh and creative thinking on this urgent and complex issue.
A survey in Karnataka to assess the achievement and job readiness of graduates in degree colleges based on their knowledge and soft skills