Bihar’s unemployment story is more complex than the numbers suggest. While official statistics show a sharp decline, the type and quality of jobs tell a different story, one of survival rather than opportunity.
Bihar’s Official Unemployment Numbers Look Encouraging, But Are They Misleading?
According to government data, Bihar’s overall unemployment rate fell from 8% in 2017-18 to just 3% in 2023-24. Youth unemployment followed a similar trajectory, dropping from 31% in 2018-19 to 4.3% in 2022-23, before climbing back to 16% in recent years.
On paper, this sounds like a success story. Yet, these figures hide a critical issue: the majority of the employed population is not engaged in stable or secure work. The headline numbers paint a positive picture, but the reality on the ground is far more nuanced.
The Real Issue Is Not Just Unemployment But Quality of Work in Bihar
Employment alone does not reflect economic well-being. Regular wage or salaried jobs, which provide a steady income, benefits, and job security, remain painfully scarce in Bihar. Among all major Indian states, Bihar ranks the lowest in terms of people holding such jobs.
Even before the pandemic, only around 10% of the workforce had regular wage employment. This proportion has declined further in recent years. In other words, while more people may be “employed” statistically, very few have jobs that offer stability or a decent livelihood.
Informal Work and Household Labour Surge as Desperate Families Struggle to Survive
Instead of formal employment, informal and often unpaid labour has grown rapidly. A major shift has occurred in the “helpers in household enterprises” category, which usually includes family members assisting in small, unregistered businesses.
In 2017-18, around 5% of Bihar’s workforce fell into this category. By 2023-24, the share skyrocketed to 21%. These positions rarely come with fixed hours, guaranteed wages, or social security. They reflect survival strategies rather than meaningful job creation.
Hidden Underemployment Explains Why Bihar’s Unemployment Rate Appears Low
This surge in informal household labour partly explains the deceptively low unemployment figures. Many who would otherwise be counted as unemployed are instead absorbed into unregulated, insecure work.
These are not jobs generated by economic growth but by necessity, people working because they cannot afford not to. It is a form of hidden underemployment, keeping official numbers comfortable while masking a precarious reality.
Bihar’s Workforce Crisis: Why Job Quality Matters More Than Numbers
Bihar’s economic challenge is not just to reduce unemployment but to improve job quality. Policymakers need to focus on creating more regular wage jobs with social security and benefits. Without such reforms, even low unemployment rates will fail to translate into better livelihoods for the majority of workers.
In short, Bihar’s employment statistics are a cautionary tale: headline numbers may be encouraging, but a deeper look reveals widespread underemployment, precarious work, and a workforce struggling to find secure and meaningful jobs.
Inputs from TOI
Bihar’s Official Unemployment Numbers Look Encouraging, But Are They Misleading?
According to government data, Bihar’s overall unemployment rate fell from 8% in 2017-18 to just 3% in 2023-24. Youth unemployment followed a similar trajectory, dropping from 31% in 2018-19 to 4.3% in 2022-23, before climbing back to 16% in recent years.
On paper, this sounds like a success story. Yet, these figures hide a critical issue: the majority of the employed population is not engaged in stable or secure work. The headline numbers paint a positive picture, but the reality on the ground is far more nuanced.
The Real Issue Is Not Just Unemployment But Quality of Work in Bihar
Employment alone does not reflect economic well-being. Regular wage or salaried jobs, which provide a steady income, benefits, and job security, remain painfully scarce in Bihar. Among all major Indian states, Bihar ranks the lowest in terms of people holding such jobs.
Even before the pandemic, only around 10% of the workforce had regular wage employment. This proportion has declined further in recent years. In other words, while more people may be “employed” statistically, very few have jobs that offer stability or a decent livelihood.
Informal Work and Household Labour Surge as Desperate Families Struggle to Survive
Instead of formal employment, informal and often unpaid labour has grown rapidly. A major shift has occurred in the “helpers in household enterprises” category, which usually includes family members assisting in small, unregistered businesses.
In 2017-18, around 5% of Bihar’s workforce fell into this category. By 2023-24, the share skyrocketed to 21%. These positions rarely come with fixed hours, guaranteed wages, or social security. They reflect survival strategies rather than meaningful job creation.
Hidden Underemployment Explains Why Bihar’s Unemployment Rate Appears Low
This surge in informal household labour partly explains the deceptively low unemployment figures. Many who would otherwise be counted as unemployed are instead absorbed into unregulated, insecure work.
These are not jobs generated by economic growth but by necessity, people working because they cannot afford not to. It is a form of hidden underemployment, keeping official numbers comfortable while masking a precarious reality.
Bihar’s Workforce Crisis: Why Job Quality Matters More Than Numbers
Bihar’s economic challenge is not just to reduce unemployment but to improve job quality. Policymakers need to focus on creating more regular wage jobs with social security and benefits. Without such reforms, even low unemployment rates will fail to translate into better livelihoods for the majority of workers.
In short, Bihar’s employment statistics are a cautionary tale: headline numbers may be encouraging, but a deeper look reveals widespread underemployment, precarious work, and a workforce struggling to find secure and meaningful jobs.
Inputs from TOI
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