Most rural youth don't want to migrate for work, finds study

NEW DELHI: Over 60% rural male youth and 70% females do not want to migrate for work and would prefer to find work closer to their villages, a report showed on Monday.
About 70-85% youth currently employed said they want to change jobs, seeking new opportunities. Among those aiming for a career change, a majority showed interest in starting small manufacturing, retail, or trading ventures.However, younger women stood out with a preference for securing salaried positions in govt roles, as per State of Rural Youth Employment Report-2024.
Women seeking salaried positions showed a strong preference for teaching roles, followed by clerical positions, with sales and marketing roles being less favoured, the survey results showed.
Men seeking salaried employment favoured teaching, accounting/clerical roles, and factory work. "These preferences reflect the growing demand for these occupations in rural India and the increasing popularity of gig work," according to the report, which is based on survey covering 21 states conducted by Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), a joint initiative of Transform Rural India (TRI) and Sambodhi Research, and Global Development Incubator.
It showed that among older youth aged 26-35, 85% men were employed, with nearly 10% unemployed after having worked before. In contrast, 40% of women in this age group were employed, a quarter had exited the workforce, and a third had never been employed.
It said across ages and genders, a common strategy to overcome these barriers was clearly communicating career goals to family members as a crucial initial step.
The report also indicates that the youth seeking a change in occupation struggle with equitable access to financial support. Nearly one in three young men also highlighted the limited opportunities in rural areas.