NEW DELHI: Textiles, apparel and hospitality are expected to generate the strongest job growth by 2030, driven by increased investment in these sectors, according to a new report by economic policy think tank NCAER. The study also urges targeted reforms to remove bottlenecks and accelerate expansion.
With moderate growth in manufacturing and services, employment in textiles, garments and related industries could rise by 53%, while jobs in trade, hotels and similar services could grow by 79% by 2030. Despite the economy’s recent strong performance, the report notes that job quality has not kept pace, as much of the employment increase has come from self-employment — particularly in agriculture — rather than stable, salaried positions.
“India’s employment strategy must move beyond aggregate growth targets toward a calibrated mix of demand- and supply-side measures that directly encourage labour absorption,” the report said.
On the supply side, it calls for strengthening vocational training, enabling credit portability for students, deepening industry collaborations and increasing investment in training quality.
The report also highlights that India’s labour force participation rate — around 50% — remains low compared with peer economies, and that the dominance of the informal sector poses a major challenge to sustained growth.
