Without Enough Jobs
Without Enough Jobs: The 2024 crisis in Bangladesh showed a serious problem. Youth protests in India showed the same issue. South Asia is facing a job crisis. Economies are growing, but jobs are not growing enough. More people now receive higher education. They also expect better jobs. However, the job market cannot meet these expectations. This has increased frustration among young people.
Unequal Growth, Few Jobs
India, Bangladesh and Pakistan face this problem. Their economic growth rates differ. India and Bangladesh have grown by about 6–7% each year for decades. Pakistan has grown by only 3–4%. Yet, all three countries struggle to create enough good jobs. This shows that growth alone cannot solve unemployment.
Agriculture and Jobs
India provides a clear example. Agriculture made up 35% of India’s economy in 1990. It employed about 63% of workers. By 2025, agriculture made up only 16% of GDP. Yet, it still employed about 42% of workers. Many people still depend on farming. However, farming does not provide enough productive work. This creates widespread underemployment.
Slow Job Transition
Other sectors have increased their productivity. Technology has also improved production. However, these changes have not created enough jobs. Workers have not moved out of agriculture fast enough. They should have moved into factories and services. This slow shift has created a major employment problem.
Technology and Jobs
Technology creates another challenge. India’s IT sector has become a global success. It earns hundreds of billions of dollars every year. It also attracts large amounts of investment. Yet, it employs only a small share of India’s workers. India adds about 12 million young workers to its labour force each year. The IT sector creates far fewer jobs. Many engineering graduates also lack the skills that employers need.
AI and Job Losses
Artificial intelligence may increase this problem. Robots can also replace some workers. Companies now need fewer low-skilled workers in many areas. New jobs often require advanced skills. Many young people do not have these skills. This creates a gap between workers and employers.
Agriculture’s Job Limits
Agriculture cannot solve the problem forever. Around 480 million people depend on farming in India. Many of them already have too little work. Modern farming can increase productivity. Machines can also reduce costs. But machines can replace farm workers. This will reduce agriculture’s role as a source of employment.
Other Causes of Unemployment
Other factors also increase unemployment. Few women participate in the workforce. Manufacturing has also declined too early. Inequality continues to grow. Education also fails to match market needs. These problems make it harder for young people to find good jobs.
Education and Job Gap
India has expanded higher education rapidly. Around 45 million students attend colleges and universities. Tertiary enrolment has reached nearly 28%. However, more graduates have not created more jobs. Indian universities produced about 5 million graduates each year from 2004 to 2023. Only about 2.8 million found jobs each year.
Education Quality Gap
The quality of education creates an even bigger problem. Many graduates lack practical skills. Universities often use outdated courses. Students also rely heavily on memorisation. They receive little practical training. Many students focus on degrees and marks. They give less attention to problem-solving and analytical skills.
Universities also produce too many graduates in some fields. At the same time, employers cannot find enough technical workers. This creates a serious mismatch. Government funding can make the problem worse. Elite institutions receive large amounts of public money. Other institutions receive much less support. Higher education also costs families more money.
A New Growth Model
South Asia needs a different growth model. Economic growth alone cannot create enough jobs. Countries must promote labour-intensive industries. Manufacturing needs a stronger role. Agriculture must support workers during economic change. Education must teach practical and modern skills.
Closing the Jobs Gap
Governments must also prepare young people for new jobs. They should encourage industries that can employ large numbers of workers. They should also increase women’s participation in the workforce.
South Asia cannot ignore the growth-jobs gap. Millions of young people enter the labour market every year. If economies fail to create enough jobs, frustration will grow. This can hurt economic progress and political stability.
Published in Dawn, 6th August 2026
