According to CMIE’s Consumer Pyramids Household Survey,
employment in India fell from 408.9 million in 2019-20 to 387.2 million in
2020-21 and then it recovered to 401.8 million in 2021-22. Evidently, the
recovery in 2021-22 was inadequate. Employment was still 1.7 per cent or 7
million short of the employment level of the pre-pandemic year of
2019-20. This loss of 4.5 million jobs
because of the pandemic is the more lasting net impact. The immediate impact
was much bigger. Nearly 100 million jobs were lost during the quarter of
June 2020 which roughly coincides with the first wave of the Covid-19 virus.
Similarly, 13 million jobs were lost during the second wave in the
quarter of June 2021. While the rate has improved since then, it remained elevated
in the months following the initial outbreak.
Industry Impact: Certain industries were hit harder than others, with hospitality, tourism, and retail suffering the most significant job losses. A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to the loss of up to 25 million jobs in India's tourism and hospitality sector alone.
Migrant Workers: The pandemic had a particularly devastating impact on migrant workers, many of whom lost their jobs and were forced to return to their hometowns. The ILO estimated that around 400 million workers in India were at risk of falling into poverty due to the pandemic, with migrant workers among the most vulnerable.
Government Response: To mitigate the impact of the
pandemic on employment, the Indian government implemented various measures,
including the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, a relief package for businesses and
workers. Additionally, the government launched several job creation schemes, such as the Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan and the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
