Introductory

Youth employment has always been a matter of concern as many individuals participate in the job market at a young age much before acquiring enough skill and experience. Given the financial constraints and the compulsions to pursue job search a large majority of the youth end up in low productivity activities in the informal sector and/or formal sector activities in informal capacity. The income outcomes are naturally poor and the prospects for acquiring further skill in the current job are almost dim. The kind of activities they are engaged in does not unfold any opportunity for accessing on-the-job training. Hence, the scope of regularization or any upward mobility is rather meagre. Besides, the capital-intensive economic growth has given rise to a wide spectrum of problems for the young job market aspirants. In the post COVID scenario the youth has been facing severe challenges. The deceleration in demand and the lack of its revival aggravated the labour market outcomes. New types of jobs have emerged (i.e., platform workers) but with new challenges. Besides, whether the new jobs are able to compensate for the job losses is an important question to be investigated. What job market securities and safety-nets are available and in what ways the vulnerability of the youth can be reduced need detailed analysis. The labour market deregulations, the weakening of the bargaining power of the young labour market participants and the absence of adequate employment programmes are some of the major lacuna. The proposed volume aims at focusing on a number of issues relating to labour market participation of the youth. The inadequacy of skill and the compulsion to participate in the labour market, concentration in activities with excess supplies of labour, unrecognized work experience, lack of upward mobility and working with information asymmetry are some of the issues that the volume will be reflecting on. The caste and gender disadvantages will of course be an instrumental part of the volume. Whether certain caste categories and young women in particular, are at a greater disadvantageous position than the others, is an important line of enquiry. Besides, it will refer to a wide range of issues relating to occupational flexibility. The skill imparting institutions and the major lacuna associated with their functioning are noteworthy. Social unrest and threats to the prospects of future growth in the absence of adequate youth employment are some of the economic and political issues which cannot be ignored. The problems of the educated and uneducated youth are quite different and they need to be analysed separately. The youth tribulations due to the lack of economic growth and in the face of rising inequality and inadequate labour market opportunities warrant an in-depth analysis. The volume is also expected to cover the policy issues. Which policies hold better prospects for success and how the ongoing policies need to be revived are some of the important considerations.