Paper Details

Abstract: Education in India has long been regarded as a key pathway to personal progress and national development. Over the years, the country has witnessed a rapid expansion of higher education, resulting in a large population of degree holders entering the labour market annually. However, employment generation has not kept pace with this educational growth, leading to a rising problem of educated unemployment. A significant number of qualified youth remain jobless or are employed in positions that do not align with their educational qualifications. This situation highlights deep structural gaps between the education system and labour market requirements, rather than deficiencies at the individual level. This article critically examines the multiple factors contributing to the employment challenges faced by educated youth in India. It explores issues such as the imbalance between educational expansion and job creation, skill mismatch, limited practical exposure, uneven quality of institutions, overreliance on government jobs, social attitudes towards vocational work, and gender-specific barriers.

Keywords: Educated Unemployment, Youth Employment in India, Higher Education System, Skill Mismatch, Employability Skills, Labour Market Challenges, Vocational Education, Job Creation, Government Employment, Gender and Employment