A Project Report On

“A STUDY ON COVID – 19 IMPACT ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN INDIA”

A Project Submitted to
University of Mumbai for partial completion of the degree of
Master in Commerce
Under the Faculty of Commerce

By

Jasim Jafar Mujawar

Under the Guidance of

Prof. Sumaiya Farooque Ansari

Mangaon Shikshan Prasarak Mandal’s

D. G. Tatkare Mahavidyalay, Mangaon-Raigad

At Old Mangaon Near District Court

Tal - Mangaon, Dist.- Raigad. 402104

MAY-2023

1
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Mr. Jasim Jafar Mujawar has worked and duly completed his
Project Work for the degree of Master in Commerce under the Faculty of Commerce in the
subject of Commerce and her project is entitled, “A Study on Covid-19 Impact on
Unemployment in India.” under my supervision. I further certify that the entire work has been
done by the learner under my guidanceand that no part of it has been submitted previously for
any Degree or Diploma of any University.

It is his own work and facts reported by his personal findings and investigations

Prof. Sumaiya Ansari

( )

Date of submission:

2
 DECLARATION BY LEARNER

I the undersigned Mr. Jasim Jafar Mujawar here by declared that the work embodied in
this project work titled “A Study on Covid-19 Impact on Unemployment in India.”.” Forms
my own contribution to the research work carried out underthe guidance of prof. Sumaiya
Ansari is result on my own research work and has not been previously submitted to any
other university for any other degree to this or any other university.

Wherever reference has been made to previous work others at has been clearly indicated as
such and included in the bibliography.
I, here by further declared that all information on this document has been obtained and other presentedn
accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct.

Mujawar Jasim Jafar

( )

Certified by

PROF.(Ms.) SUMAIYA ANSARI

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 Acknowledgment

To list who all have helped me is difficult because they are so numerous and the depthis so
enormous.

I would like to acknowledge the following as being idealistic channels and freshdimensions in
the completion of this project.

I take this opportunity to thank the University of Mumbai for giving me chance todo this
project.

I would like to thank m y Principal, Dr. B.M.Khamkar for providing the necessaryfacilities
required for completion of this project.

I take this opportunity to thank our Coordinator Prof. Swapnil Sakpal, for her moral
support and guidance.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude towards my project guide Prof.
Sumaiya Ansari whose guidance and care made the project successful.

I would like to thank my College Library, for having provided various referencebooks
and magazines related to my project.
Lastly, I would like to thank each and every person who directly or indirectly helped me in the
completion of the project especially my Parents and Peers who supported methroughout my
project.

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 INDEX

Sr.No. CONTENT PAGE

NO.
1. INTRODUCTION 6-9

2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 10-50

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 51-56

4. LITERATURE REVIEW 57-75

5. DATA INTERPRETAION AND ANALYSIS 76-88

6. FINDINGS 89-90

7. SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 91-93

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY 94-95

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CHAPTER - 01
INTRODUCTION

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 INTRODUCTION :-

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on economies worldwide, and India is
no exception. One of the major consequences of this global health crisis has been the rise in
unemployment rates across various sectors in the country. The strict lockdown measures
implemented to curb the spread of the virus resulted in the closure of businesses, disruption of
supply chains, and a halt in economic activities. As a result, millions of people in India found
themselves without jobs, leading to a surge in unemployment. This unprecedented situation has
not only affected individuals and their families but has also posed significant challenges to the
Indian economy as a whole. In this essay, we will explore the impact of COVID-19 on
unemployment in India, examining the causes, consequences, and potential strategies to address
this crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed an unprecedented health and economic
crisis worldwide, affecting millions of lives. India, with its vast population and diverse
economy, has experienced a profound impact on its labor market. The pandemic and the
subsequent measures taken to contain its spread have resulted in a significant disruption of
economic activities, leading to widespread unemployment in the country.When the first wave
of COVID-19 hit India in early 2020, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb
the transmission of the virus. While this was a necessary step to protect public health, it had
severe consequences for businesses and workers. Industries that rely on physical interactions,
such as hospitality, tourism, and retail, were brought to a standstill overnight. The
manufacturing sector also faced significant challenges due to supply chain disruptions and
reduced consumer demand. As a result, numerous businesses were forced to shut down, leading
to mass layoffs and job losses.The impact of unemployment was particularly felt in the informal
sector, which employs a significant portion of the Indian workforce. This sector encompasses
daily wage laborers, street vendors, and self-employed individuals, who often lack job security,
social protection, and formal employment contracts. With economic activities coming to a halt,
these workers found themselves without any means of livelihood. Many migrant workers, who
often travel from rural areas to cities in search of work, were left stranded without jobs, income,
or access to basic necessities.The consequences of unemployment during the pandemic were
far-reaching and went beyond individual households.

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This posed significant challenges for the government in providing social welfare support and
implementing measures to stimulate the economy.Addressing the unemployment crisis
became a critical priority for the Indian government. Efforts were made to revive economic
activities gradually by easing lockdown restrictions, implementing relief measures, and
launching initiatives to support vulnerable workers and businesses. However, the road to
recovery remains challenging, with subsequent waves of the pandemic and new variants
posing ongoing threats to public health and economic stability.In conclusion, the COVID-19
pandemic has had a profound impact on unemployment in India. The sudden disruption of
economic activities, job losses in the informal sector, and the far-reaching consequences on
individuals, households, and the economy have created an urgent need for comprehensive
strategies and support mechanisms. As India navigates through these challenging times, it is
crucial to prioritize not only the health of its citizens but also the well-being and livelihoods
of its workforce. The sudden imposition of nationwide lockdowns in March 2020 had an
immediate and severe impact on the Indian economy. Industries heavily reliant on physical
interactions, such as hospitality, tourism, retail, and manufacturing, came to a grinding halt
virtually overnight. Businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, faced immense
pressure as they had to suspend operations or shut down permanently. This led to a massive
loss of jobs and a surge in unemployment across the country.The informal sector, which forms
a significant portion of India's workforce, was hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Workers
in sectors like construction, daily wage labor, street vending, and domestic help saw their
livelihoods vanish as economic activities ground to a halt. Many of these workers lacked job
security, formal employment contracts, and access to social protection, leaving them
vulnerable to the economic shock caused by the pandemic. Migrant workers, who often travel
from rural areas to cities in search of work, found themselves stranded without employment
or means to sustain themselvesThe consequences of the rising unemployment rates were not
limited to individual households; they reverberated throughout the economy. The loss of
income resulted in a decline in consumer spending, as people cut back on discretionary
expenses. This, in turn, affected businesses' revenue and profitability, further exacerbating the
economic downturn. Reduced economic activity also had a direct impact on government
revenue, with lower tax collections and strained resources to provide social welfare support.In
response to the unemployment crisis, the Indian government implemented various measures
to revive economic activities and support affected workers and businesses.

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 Meaning

The impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India is a reflection of the devastating

consequences of the global pandemic on the country's labor market. The sudden imposition of
nationwide lockdowns and the subsequent disruption of economic activities led to mass layoffs
and job losses across various sectors. This had a profound effect on individuals, households, and
the economy as a whole. Workers in the informal sector, who already faced precarious
employment conditions, were particularly vulnerable, with many losing their means of livelihood.
The consequences of rising unemployment extended beyond individual households, resulting in a
decline in consumer spending, reduced government revenue, and a strain on social welfare
systems. The Indian government implemented measures to address the crisis, but the path to
recovery remains challenging amidst subsequent waves of the pandemic. The topic highlights the
urgent need to prioritize the well-being and livelihoods of the workforce while rebuilding and
fostering economic resilience in the face of this unprecedented global health and economic crisis.

Definition

The impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India refers to the significant consequences of

the global pandemic on the country's labor market. It encompasses the widespread job losses and
rise in unemployment rates caused by the measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus.
The sudden imposition of nationwide lockdowns and the subsequent disruption of economic
activities resulted in the closure of businesses, disruption of supply chains, and a halt in various
sectors. This led to millions of people in India losing their jobs and facing unemployment. The
impact was felt across both formal and informal sectors, affecting workers in industries such as
hospitality, tourism, retail, manufacturing, construction, and daily wage labor. The consequences
of rising unemployment had far-reaching effects on individuals, households, businesses, and the
overall economy. Addressing this crisis has become a priority for the government, with efforts
focused on implementing relief measures, stimulating economic recovery, and providing support
to affected workers and businesses.

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 CHAPTER-02
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

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 History on Covid-19 Impact on Unemployment in India

The history of the COVID-19 impact on unemployment in India dates back to early 2020 when
the country first encountered the devastating effects of the pandemic. As the virus rapidly spread
across the nation, the government implemented strict lockdown measures in March 2020 to control
its transmission. These lockdowns, although necessary for public health, resulted in a severe
disruption of economic activities and a sudden surge in unemployment. Industries such as
hospitality, tourism, retail, and manufacturing came to a standstill as businesses faced closures and
layoffs. The informal sector, which comprises a significant portion of India's workforce, was hit
particularly hard, with daily wage laborers and self-employed individuals struggling to find work
and sustain their livelihoods. The subsequent waves of the pandemic further deepened the
unemployment crisis, as localized lockdowns and restrictions continued to impact economic
recovery. Throughout this history, the Indian government has taken steps to mitigate the effects of
unemployment by implementing relief measures, providing financial support, and initiating
employment schemes. However, the long-lasting impact of the pandemic on India's labor market
remains a challenge as the country strives for economic revival and job creation in the post-
pandemic era. The impact of unemployment was felt across both formal and informal sectors of
the economy. The informal sector, which employs a significant portion of India's workforce, was
hit particularly hard. Daily wage laborers, street vendors, and self-employed individuals found
themselves without jobs and a means to support their families. Migrant workers, who often travel
from rural areas to cities in search of work, were stranded without employment and means to return
home.As the pandemic progressed, subsequent waves of the virus further deepened the
unemployment crisis. Localized lockdowns and restrictions were imposed in various states,
disrupting economic recovery efforts. Industries that showed signs of revival were once again
forced to shut down temporarily, leading to additional job losses and increased unemployment
ratesIn response to the unemployment crisis, the Indian government introduced a series of
measures to mitigate its effects. These included financial assistance packages, loan moratoriums,
and income support programs targeting vulnerable sections of society. Additionally, initiatives
such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) were
expanded to provide temporary employment opportunities to those in need.However, despite these
measures,

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 Brief profile on Covid-19 Impact on Unemployment in India

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on unemployment

in India. With the implementation of strict lockdown measures to contain the spread of
the virus, economic activities came to a halt, leading to widespread job losses across
various sectors. Industries such as hospitality, tourism, retail, and manufacturing
experienced closures and layoffs, resulting in a surge in unemployment rates. The
informal sector, which comprises a significant portion of the Indian workforce, was
particularly affected, leaving daily wage laborers, street vendors, and self-employed
individuals without income or means of sustenance. The government has taken steps to
address the crisis by implementing relief measures and employment schemes, but the
long-lasting impact of the pandemic on the labor market remains a challenge. As India
continues to navigate the post-pandemic era, the focus is on reviving economic activities,
creating job opportunities, and supporting the workforce to rebuild and strengthen the
labor market.The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant and far-reaching impact on
unemployment in India. The strict lockdown measures imposed to contain the virus
resulted in the closure of businesses and disrupted economic activities, leading to a surge
in job losses. Industries heavily reliant on physical interactions, such as hospitality,
tourism, retail, and manufacturing, were hit hard, forcing many businesses to shut down
temporarily or permanently. This resulted in widespread unemployment across the
country, affecting both formal and informal sectors. Daily wage laborers, street vendors,
and self-employed individuals, who make up a substantial portion of the workforce, faced
significant challenges as their means of livelihood vanished. The pandemic also
highlighted the vulnerability of migrant workers, who were stranded without jobs and
means to return home. The Indian government implemented various relief measures and
employment schemes to address the crisis, but the long-term impact remains a challenge.
As India continues its recovery efforts, the focus is on rebuilding the economy, creating
sustainable job opportunities, and supporting the affected workforce to restore stability
and resilience in the labor market.

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 Characteristics on Covid-19 Impact on Unemployment in India

✓ Sudden and Widespread Job Losses: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden and
widespread loss of jobs across various sectors in India. Industries such as hospitality,
tourism, retail, and manufacturing faced closures and layoffs, resulting in a sharp rise in
unemployment rates.
✓ Disproportionate Impact on the Informal Sector: The impact of unemployment was
particularly felt in the informal sector, which comprises a significant portion of the Indian
workforce. Daily wage laborers, street vendors, and self-employed individuals in sectors like
construction and daily labor faced a loss of income and struggled to sustain their livelihoods.
✓ Stranded Migrant Workers: The pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of migrant
workers in India. With the sudden halt in economic activities, many found themselves
stranded in cities without jobs or means to return to their home villages. The lack of social
protection and support systems made their situation even more challenging.
✓ Decline in Consumer Spending: The rise in unemployment had a direct impact on
consumer spending. With reduced income and job uncertainty, individuals and households
cut back on discretionary expenses, leading to a decline in overall consumer demand. This
further affected businesses and economic recovery.
✓ Strain on Social Welfare Systems: The increasing unemployment rates posed challenges
for social welfare systems in India. The government had to provide support and financial
assistance to those affected, putting a strain on resources and budgetary allocations.
✓ Government Initiatives and Relief Measures: The Indian government implemented
various initiatives and relief measures to address the unemployment crisis. These included
financial assistance packages, employment schemes, and support for small businesses to
revive economic activities and create job opportunities.
✓ Long-Term Challenges and Recovery Efforts: The long-term impact of the pandemic on
the labor market remains a challenge. As India navigates the post-pandemic era, the focus is
on rebuilding the economy, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating sustainable job
opportunities to restore stability and resilience in the labor market.These characteristics
highlight the profound and multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
unemployment in India, necessitating comprehensive strategies and support mechanisms to
address the crisis and promote economic recovery.

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✓ Gender Disparities: The pandemic has highlighted existing gender disparities in the labor
market. Women, particularly those employed in sectors such as hospitality, retail, and informal
work, have faced higher job losses and unemployment rates compared to men. This has further
widened gender inequalities in the workforce
✓ Skills Mismatch: The pandemic has exposed a skills mismatch in the labor market. With
industries undergoing transformations and adapting to new ways of operating, individuals with
outdated or insufficient skills faced difficulties in finding employment. The need for upskilling
and reskilling has become crucial for job seekers in the post-pandemic job market.
✓ Impact on Young Workforce: The pandemic has significantly affected the young workforce
in India. With the closure of educational institutions and limited job opportunities, recent
graduates and young professionals faced challenges in entering the job market. Many were
forced to postpone their career plans or settle for lower-skilled jobs, impacting their long-term
career prospects.
✓ Digital Divide: The shift towards remote work and digital platforms during the pandemic has
highlighted the digital divide in India. Individuals lacking access to digital infrastructure,
including stable internet connection and necessary devices, faced difficulties in accessing job
opportunities or participating in remote work. This further exacerbated employment disparities.
✓ Strain on Mental Health: The impact of unemployment on mental health cannot be
overlooked. The pandemic-induced job losses and financial uncertainties have contributed to
increased stress, anxiety, and depression among individuals. The mental health implications of
unemployment require attention and support from both the government and society.
✓ Role of Technology and Automation: The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of
technology and automation in various industries. This shift may lead to long-term changes in
the labor market, with certain job roles being replaced or transformed by technology. The
workforce will need to adapt to these changes and acquire new skills to remain employable.
✓ Need for Economic Resilience: The pandemic has underscored the importance of building
economic resilience to mitigate the impact of future crises. Governments and businesses need
to focus on diversifying the economy, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating robust social
safety nets to safeguard against future shocks and minimize the effects of unemployment.

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 Background of the Study

The background of the study on the COVID-19 impact on unemployment in India stems from
the unprecedented global health crisis caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In
early 2020, the world witnessed the rapid spread of the virus, leading to severe disruptions in
economic activities and labor markets. India, as one of the most populous countries and
emerging economies, faced significant challenges in managing the impact of the pandemic on
its workforce. The sudden imposition of nationwide lockdown measures to curb the virus
transmission resulted in the closure of businesses, layoffs, and a surge in unemployment rates
across various sectors. The informal sector, which plays a crucial role in India's economy,
experienced a disproportionate impact, leaving millions of daily wage laborers, street vendors,
and self-employed individuals without means of livelihood. The study aims to delve deeper into
the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on unemployment in India, examining its social,
economic, and psychological implications. By exploring the underlying factors, characteristics,
and long-term challenges, the study intends to provide insights and recommendations to inform
policy and decision-making processes, as India strives to rebuild and strengthen its labor market
in the aftermath of the pandemic. India, with its vast population and diverse workforce, faced
unique challenges in managing the impact of the pandemic on unemployment. The sudden
imposition of nationwide lockdown measures in early 2020 led to the closure of businesses,
disrupted supply chains, and brought economic activities to a standstill. This had immediate
and severe consequences for the labor market, resulting in a sharp rise in unemployment rates
across various sectors.The impact of unemployment was not uniform across different segments
of the labor market. The informal sector, which forms a significant part of India's economy and
employs a large number of people, was disproportionately affected. Daily wage laborers, street
vendors, and self-employed individuals faced tremendous hardships as their sources of income
abruptly vanished.Furthermore, the pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities of specific
demographic groups. Women, who are often employed in sectors heavily impacted by the
pandemic such as hospitality and retail, experienced higher job losses and greater challenges in
reentering the workforce. Younger workers, including recent graduates, faced hurdles in finding
employment opportunities and launching their careers due to limited job
openings.Understanding the background and complexities of the COVID-19 impact on
unemployment in India is crucial for formulating effective policy responses.

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 Types of Covid-19 Impact on Unemployment in India

✓ Demand deficient unemployment

It occurs when there is insufficient demand in the economy to maintain full

employment. In a recession (a period of negative economic growth) consumers will be
buying fewer goods and services. Selling fewer goods, firms sell less and so reduce
production. If firms are producing less, this leads to lower demand for workers – either
workers are fired, or a firm cuts back on employing new workers. In the worst case
scenario, the fall in demand may be so great a firm goes bankrupt, and everyone is
made redundantDemand deficient unemployment is associated with the theory of
J.M.Keynes who developed his General Theory of Money (1936) against a backdrop
of the Great Depression. During the Great Depression, unemployment soared in the
US due to the collapse of demand and fall in the money supply

✓ Frictional unemployment

This is unemployment that occurs from the inevitable time delays in finding new
employment in a free market. It may also be called ‘search unemployment’ as it relates
to the time taken to search for new employment. For example, if you graduate from
university, you can’t necessarily expect to find a job straight away which matches your
skills. This period of searching for a job is known as frictional unemployment.
Frictional unemployment will also occur when people are switching between jobs, either
because they have been made redundant or are looking for new employment.
It would generally be classed as voluntary unemployment because workers are choosing
to remain unemployed rather than get the first job that comes along.

✓ Structural unemployment

Structural unemployment is caused by a mismatch of skills between the unemployed and

available jobs. Structural unemployed is caused by changes in the economy, such as
deindustrialisation, which leaves some unemployed workers unable to find work in new
industries with different skill requirements.

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 Causes of Structural unemployment

✓ Geographical immobility: This occurs when workers are unable to move from areas of
high unemployment to areas with labour shortages. This could occur due to the difficulties
of buying/renting a house. It could also be due to family attachments to their current area.
For example, often there are vacancies in London but unemployment in outlying regions.
However, it is difficult for the unemployed to leave the northeast and find a place to live
in London.
✓ Occupational immobility: This occurs after changes in the economy, which lead to
shifting demand for skilled labour. For example, if there is a closure of manufacturing
firms, workers with skills for these types of jobs may struggle to relocate in new industries
where very different skills
✓ Voluntary unemployment It refers to the situation when the worker deliberately chooses
not to work because of a low wage scale or not able to find out the suitable employment
for him. In other words, the voluntary unemployment is when the person decides not to
participate in the labor market, not because of the unavailability of jobs, but because of
not finding the jobs of his/her choice or is not satisfied with the wage systemThe voluntary
unemployment also gets created when the worker is neither willing to work nor searches
for a job, as he is satisfied with the amount given by the government in the form of
unemployment benefits. High-income tax rates could also be one of the reasons behind a
worker not choosing to workThe lack of job information can lead to the unemployment.
Such as first-time job seeker might not have sufficient information about the nature of a
job and decides to remain unemployed until the time he gets the desired opportunity.
Frictional unemployment is also a form of voluntary unemployment wherein the worker
deliberately leaves his job in the search for better job pursuits

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 Main Causes of Unemployment in India

1. Cast system: In India caste system is prevalent. The work is prohibited for specific castes
in some areas. In many cases, the work is not given to the deserving candidates but given
to the person belonging to a particular community. So this gives rise to unemployment.
2. Slow economic growth: Indian economy is underdeveloped and role of economic growth
is very slow. This slow growth fails to provide enough unemployment opportunities to the
increasing population.
3. Increase in population: Constant increase in population has been a big problem in India.
It is one of the main causes of unemployment. The rate of unemployment is 11.1% in 10th
Plan.
4. Agriculture is a seasonal occupation: Agriculture is underdeveloped in India. It provides
seasonal employment. Large part of population is dependent on agriculture. But agriculture
being seasonal provides work for a few months. So this gives rise to unemployment
5. Joint family system: In big families having big business, many such persons will be
available who do not do any work and depend on the joint income of the family. Many of
them seem to be working but they do not add anything to production. So they encourage
disguised unemployment
6. Fall of cottage and small industries: The industrial development had adverse effect on
cottage and small industries. The production of cottage industries began to fall and many
artisans became unemployed.
7. Slow growth of industrialization: The rate of industrial growth is slow. Though emphasis
is laid on industrialization yet the avenues of employment created by industrialization are
very few.
8. Less savings and investment: There is inadequate capital in India. Above all, this capital
has been judiciously invested. Investment depends on savings. Savings are inadequate. Due
to shortage of savings and investment, opportunities of employment have not been created.
9. Causes of under unemployment: Inadequate availability of means of production is the
main cause of under employment. People do not get employment for the whole year due to
shortage of electricity, coal and raw materials.
10. Defective planning: Defective planning is the one of the cause of unemployment. There
is wide gap between supply and demand for labour. No Plan had formulated any long term
scheme for removal of unemployment.

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 Other impact of unemployment

• The government suffers extra borrowing burden because unemployment causes a

decrease in the production and less consumption of goods and services by the people.

• Unemployed persons can easily be enticed by antisocial elements. This makes them
lose faith in the democratic values of the country.

• Unemployment affects the economy of the country as the workforce that could have
been gainfully employed to generate resources actually gets dependent on the
remaining working population, thus escalating socio- economic costs for the state.
For instance, a 1 % increase in unemployment reduces the GDP by 2 %.

• It is often seen that unemployed people end up getting addicted to drugs and alcohol
or attempts suicide, leading to losses to the human resources of the country.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted economic
activity in India. Until mid-March 2020, the economy was mainly hit by disruptions
in cross-border connections. For example, tourism arrivals in India declined due to
strict travel restrictions and some value chains were interrupted, especially with
China. When COVID-19 started to spread in India through domestic contagion, the
Indian authorities enacted a series of measures to combat the pandemic, including a
national lockdown from March 25 onwards that strongly disrupted eco- nomic
activity across the country. When restrictions were stepwise eased in May, economic
activity slowly recovered. Shutdowns and other non-pharmaceutical interventions to
contain the spread of COVID-19 have high economic costs and consequently tend to
be accompanied by policy responses to mitigate their economic impact (Gourinchas
2020). In line, both the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India
announced measures to assist individuals and com- panies that were
negativelyaffected. Adjusting containment measures and policy responses to mitigate
their economic impact require an assessment of the magnitude of the economic
situation in near real-time. In addition, since the impact can vary at different
locations, an assessment at high spatial granularity is needed. Indicators traditionally
used to monitor the economic situation are available only with substantial lags and
often at the national level only,

19
 and hence provide little insights into the immediate effect of strong and sudden policy
measures like a national lockdown. In response to such problems, economists have suggested
different proxies that are available at a higher frequency and with shorter publication lags, as
well as at a higher spatial granularity. Two of these are electricity consumption and night light
intensity. Electricity is an input to activities throughout the economy, from industrial production
to commerce and household activity, so changes in consumption reveal information about these
activities in real-time (Cicala 2020a, 2020b). Similarly, nighttime light intensity contains
information about economic activity at high spatial granularity. Such proxies have become
especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it makes data collection through
surveys, which are fundamental for the traditional estimation of gross value added, more difficult.
In line, the Central Statistical Office noted that data collection challenges related to India’s
national lockdown will likely result in revisions to its growth estimate for the first quarter of
2020. Both electricity consumption and nighttime light intensity closely track economic
activityand have been used extensively to improve national account estimates of GDP (e.g.
Henderson et al. 2012, Lyu et al. 2018, Chen et al. 2019). Both proxies have also been used to
assess the economic impact of major policy measures. Nighttime light intensity, for example,
allowed assessing the impact of India’s demonetization in November 2016 (Beyer, Chhabra,
Galdo, and Rama 2018, Chodorow-Reich, Gopinath, Mishra, and Narayanan 2020). It is also
invaluable to approximate economic activity at the sub-national level, including in India (Gibson,
Datt, Murgai, Ravallion 2017, Prakash, Shukla, Bhowmick, and Beyer 2019, Chanda and Kabiraj
2020). In concurrent work, electricity consumption has been shown to have closely tracke
economic activity in the United States during the global financial it has been employed for an
assessment of the In this paper, we first confirm a meaningful relationship between electricity
consumption, nighttime light intensity, and economic activity in India. We then propose a new
real-time mea- sure of daily economic activity in India at the country and state levels based on
daily electricity consumption. We estimate an electricity consumption model based on the day of
the week, the week of the year, the temperature, and holidays that explains 90 percent of the
variation in In- dia’s electricity consumption. Comparing the actual electricity consumption in
2020 to the one predicted by the model allows us, first, to quantify the economic costs of the
COVID-19 pan- demic and the national lockdown implemented on March 25, 2020 and, second,
to understand different impacts between states. In addition, we use night light intensity to gauge
the impacts at the district and city level and to explore their local drivers.

20
 ✓ Support to the Most Vulnerable Workers: While the Central Government has already
given directions to states for using the funds available with the building and other
construction workers' welfare boards for providing immediate relief to construction
workers, there could be some without an active membership or those who are not registered
with these boards. It is suggested that all construction workers may be reached out to, with
the help of employers' associations/civil society organizations and assisted with immediate
registration and relief through the welfare board funds. All migrant workers may be
registered on a state portal of the recipient state with details of their place of origin,
occupation etc. All state portals could later be integrated into a national portal. This will
help in creating a database of migrant workers, which would be useful while formulating
schemes for providing welfare and social security benefits to them. This data could be filled
in by the migrant worker, who could be assisted by a call centre upon giving a missed call.
The portal, in turn, would need to be popularised through wide publicity campaigns

Some other suggestions are as follow:

1. Self employment should be encouraged.

2. To boost the MSMEs steps should be taken

3. Education also needs overhauling.

Vocational education should be made as an important component of education. 4. Attamnirbhar

bharat programme should to launched at massive level. 5. To solve unemployment, problem,
population growth should be reviewed. Family planning policy should be uniformly and
efficiently enforced. It is believed that as the economy develops it increases the job opportunities,
therefore when a country is making progress and its production is expanding, employment
opportunities will be increasing. Thus, for the overall development of any country economical
growth is considered a must. While immediate measures have been announced, it would also be
important to make sure that businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, and
the self-employed, have the resources they need to restart and stay afloat. All micro-enterprises
and the self-employed such as vendors, owners of small eateries, artisans, craftspersons, etc.,
may be allowed to avail credit facilities on reduced interest rates to meet their working capital
requirements for a period of one year. get better access to markets for their products, including
through e-commerce platforms.

21
Conceptual framework
The state of being without any work yet looking for work is called unemployment.
Economists distinguish between various overlapping types of and theories of
unemployment, including cyclical or Keynesian unemployment, frictional unemployment,
structural unemployment and classical unemployment. Some additional types of
unemployment that are occasionally mentioned are seasonal unemployment, hardcore
unemployment, and hidden unemployment. Though there have been several definitions of
"voluntary" and "involuntary unemployment" in the economics literature, a simple
distinction is often applied. Voluntary unemployment is attributed to the individual's
decisions, but involuntary unemployment exists because of the socio-economic environment
(including the market structure, government intervention, and the level of aggregate demand)
in which individuals operate. In these terms, much or most of frictional unemployment is
voluntary since it reflects individual search behavior. Voluntary unemployment includes
workers who reject low-wage jobs, but involuntary unemployment includes workers fired
because of an economic crisis, industrial decline, company bankruptcy, or organizational
restructuring. On the other hand, cyclical unemployment, structural unemployment, and
classical unemployment are largely involuntary in nature. However, the existence of
structural unemployment may reflect choices made by the unemployed in the past, and
classical (natural) unemployment may result from the legislative and economic choices made
by labour unions or political parties. The clearest cases of involuntary unemployment are
those with fewer job vacancies than unemployed workers even when wages are allowed to
adjust and so even if all vacancies were to be filled, some unemployed workers would still
remain. That happens with cyclical unemployment, as macroeconomic forces

22
✓ Impact of Unemployment on economy

1. Exploitation of labour: Due to unemployment labourers are exploited. They have to

accept low wages and work under un-favourable conditions.
2. Industrial disputes: Industrial disputes arise because of unemployment. It has adverse
effects on employer-employee relations. Due to industrial disputes, the unemployment
rises.
3. Political instability: There is political instability in the country due to unemployment.
Unemployed persons engage themselves in destructive activities. They consider
Government, worthless. Economic development becomes difficult under conditions of
political instability.
4. Social problems: Many social evils like dishonesty, gambling and immorality etc.
arise due to unemployment. It endangers law and order situation of the country. It causes
social disruption in the society.
5. Increase in poverty: Under the situation of unemployment a man has no source of
income. Unemployment causes poverty. Burden of debt increases, Economic problems
increase.
6. Loss of human resources: Due to unemployment, human resources go waste. No
constructive use of labour force is made. If human resources are properly used, economic
growth of the country will increase.

✓ Other impact of unemployment

• The government suffers extra borrowing burden because unemployment causes a

decrease in the production and less consumption of goods and services by the people.

• Unemployed persons can easily be enticed by antisocial elements. This makes them
lose faith in the democratic values of the country.

• Unemployment affects the economy of the country as the workforce that could have
been gainfully employed to generate resources actually gets dependent on the remaining
working population, thus escalating socioeconomic costs for the state. For instance, a 1
% increase in unemployment reduces the GDP by 2 %.

23
 The effects on employment because of COVID-19 are a massive disaster to Indian
Economy as well as on employability of Indian people. It will be a great challenge for the
government to deal with such a situation. It is going to hamper both, business as well as to
the employees equally. COVID-19 is a disaster in both the ways health-wise as well as
economy-wise. Negative and large effects of COVID-19 will pull the economy 5years back
and government needs to take measures for this in an aggressive way. Government will have
to consider present as well as future policies for dealing this situation

24
 There are more than 30 Lacs students graduated & around 40 Lacs students post-graduated
in India every year, and in present situation it is more than difficult to ensure that each and
every student will get employed. More than 4 out of 5 people (81%) in the global workforce
of 3.3 billion are currently affected by full or partial workplace closures. 1.25 billion Workers
are employed in the sectors identified as being at high risk “drastic & devastating increases in
layoffs and reductions in wages and working hours, low-pays, low-skilled jobs are leading to
loss of income drastically. JOB LOSSES IN INDIA There could be severe job losses across
different sectors in India if COVID-19 impact continues for few more months. These sectors
could be: - Aviation, travel, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, automotive, FMCG, Food &
beverages sectors.

25
 Unemployment rate remains notably higher than the
pre-COVID period

To contain the spread of COVID-19, a nationwide lockdown was imposed from late March till
May 2020. During the lockdown, severe restrictions were placed on the movement of
individuals and economic activities were significantly halted barring the activities related to
essential goods and services. Unemployment rate in urban areas rose to 20.9% during the
April-June quarter of 2020, more than double the unemployment rate in the same quarter the
previous year (8.9%). Unemployment rate refers to the percentage of unemployed persons in
the labour force. Labour force includes persons who are either employed or unemployed but
seeking work. The lockdown restrictions were gradually relaxed during the subsequent
months. Unemployment rate also saw a decrease as compared to the levels seen in the April-
June quarter of 2020. During the October-December quarter of 2020 (latest data available),
unemployment rate had reduced to 10.3%. However, it was notably higher than the
unemployment rate in the same quarter last year (7.9%).

Recovery post-national lockdown uneven in case of females

Pre-COVID-19 trends suggest that the female unemployment rate has generally been higher than
the male unemployment rate in the country (7.3% vs 9.8% during the October-December quarter
of 2019, respectively). Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this gap seems to have
widened. During the October-December quarter of 2020, the unemployment rate for females
was 13.1%, as compared to 9.5% for males.The Standing Committee on Labour (April 2021)
also noted that the pandemic led to large-scale unemployment for female workers, in both
organised and unorganised sectors. It recommended: (i) increasing government procurement
from women-led enterprises, (ii) training women in new technologies, (iii) providing women
with access to capital, and (iv) investing in childcare and linked infrastructure.

26
 Labour force participation
Persons dropping in and out of the labour force may also influence the unemployment rate. At
a given point of time, there may be persons who are below the legal working age or may drop
out of the labour force due to various socio-economic reasons, for instance, to pursue
education. At the same time, there may also be discouraged workers who, while willing and
able to be employed, have ceased to seek work. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is the
indicator that denotes the percentage of the population which is part of the labour force. The
LFPR saw only marginal changes throughout 2019 and 2020. During the April-June quarter

Measures taken by the government for workers

The Standing Committee on Labour in its report released in August 2021 noted that 90% of
workers in India are from the informal sector. These workers include: (i) migrant workers, (ii)
contract labourers, (iii) construction workers, and (iv) street vendors. The Committee observed
that these workers were worst impacted by the pandemic due to seasonality of employment and
lack of employer-employee relationship in unorganised sectors. The Committee recommended
central and state governments to: (i) encourage entrepreneurial opportunities, (ii) attract
investment in traditional manufacturing sectors and developing industrial clusters, (iii)
strengthen social security measures, (iv) maintain a database of workers in the informal sector,
and (v) promote vocational training. It took note of the various steps taken by the central
government to support workers and address the challenges and threats posed by the COVID-19
pandemic (applicable to urban areas): Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana
(PMGKY), the central government contributed both 12% employer’s share and 12%
employee’s share under Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Between March and August 2020,
a total of Rs 2,567 crore was credited in EPF accounts of 38.85 lakhs eligible employees through
2.63 lakh establishments.The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojna (ABRY) Scheme was
launched with effect from October 2020 to incentivise employers for the creation of new
employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, statutory provident fund contribution of both employers and
employees was reduced to 10% each from the existing 12% for all establishments covered by
EPF Organisation for three months. As of June 30, 2021, an amount of Rs 950 crore has been
disbursed under ABRY to around 22 lakh beneficiaries

27
 Indian economy in pre-Covid-19 period Unemployment

The shock is playing out in almost a similar manner in all countries of the world in terms of
demand and supply disruptions and the consequent economic slowdown. In case of India
however the problem might be more acute and longer lasting owing to the state the economy
was in, in the pre-Covid-19 period. By the time the first Covid-19 case was reported in India,
the economy had deteriorated significantly after years of feeble performance. GDP (gross
domestic product) growth rate has been on a downward trajectory since 2015-16. According
to the official statistics, GDP growth slowed down to 4.2% in 2019-20, the lowest level since
2002-03. Industry, which accounts for 30% of GDP, shrank by 0.58% in Q4, 2019-20.
Unemployment reached a 45-year high. A major driver of growth in any economy is
investment by the private corporate sector. In the pre-Covid19 period, nominal values of
private sector investment have been declining. The total outstanding investment projects
between 2015-16 and 2019-20 declined by 2.4%, whereas new projects announced fell by
4%, as per data from the CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy). Consumption
expenditure had also been falling, for the first time in several decades. High frequency
indicators (figure 4) of urban consumption demand show that sales of passenger vehicles as
well as consumer durables growth contracted in February 2020. Overall, urban consumption
appears to have lost steam in Q4. Among the indicators of rural consumption, motorcycle
sales and the consumer nondurable segment remained in contraction in February 2020,
reflecting weak rural demand. The lock-down would have dampened any chance of revival
of consumption demand and private investment.

✓ The banking and corporate sectors During crisis times, one sector of the economy that
is required to play a crucial role in terms of alleviating the pressures on the real economy
is the financial sector. The need of the hour is to keep credit flowing to all In a bank
dominated economy, particularly at a time when the stock market is touching new lows
every day, the financial intermediaries that most firms will turn to are the banks. Actions
taken by banks would be crucial in addressing this economic challenge. Banks also play a
vital role as institutional participants in the debt market. However, the banking sector in
India is badly broken. Banks, especially the public sector banks, have been struggling to
deal with mounting losses from non-performing assets on their balance sheets.

28
The problems in the banking sector have been adversely affecting credit growth and by the
time the pandemic hit India, these problems had begun to hurt the debt markets as well
which also play an important role in the context of financial intermediation. This could
rapidly become a serious choke point as the Indian economy struggles to come to terms
with this unprecedented shock. Over the last few years, India has been dealing with the
Twin Balance Sheet (TBS) stresses in the banking and corporate sectors. This was a
consequence of high levels of non-performing assets (NPAs) in an inadequately capitalised
banking system, combined with over-leveraged and financially weak firms in the private
corporate sector (Sengupta and Vardhan, 2017, 2019). The government and the banking
regulator (RBI) took a series of steps to address the crisis. These included putting the
weakest ten banks under a Prompt Corrective Action framework which prevented them
from expanding their books, initiating investigations by the Central Vigilance Commission
(CVC), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) etc. against senior officials of the banks, and
directing banks to trigger the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC, 2016) against
defaulting firms and accept large haircuts even when capital to provide for the losses was
not sufficient. In some cases senior officials of banks were arrested for allegedly fraudulent
credit transactions.9 In February 2016, the Supreme Court issued a ruling which held that
employees of all banking companies, foreign as well as domestic, are “public servants”
under India's Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (“POCA”). This implies that all bank
employees now face the risk of investigation and prosecution under the POCA for issues
related to corruption. Nearly any decision about NPAs could come under the scanner. This
single step is likely to deter bank officers from taking commercial decisions. This is
particularly worrisome, given the expansive description of corruption under POCA and
minimal restrictions on investigations, as highlighted by commentators at the time finance
company (NBFC), IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Service) defaulted on its
debts in September, 2018. This sent shockwaves through the banking system as well as the
debt markets- the two biggest funding sources for the NBFC sector. The reaction of the
bond markets was reflected in a sharp increase in credit spreads of all financial sector bond
issuers. The total volume of bond issuances dropped significantly, not just for financial
sector firms but for all borrowers. Banks continued lending, primarily encouraged by the
RBI and the government, but this lending was limited to a handful of highly rated NBFCs.

29
 to NBFCs, and private sector banks were mainly lending to retail customers. Credit to
industry had declined dramatically whereas credit off-take in personal loans segment
accounted for the largest share (figure 6). Post the IL&FS crisis credit spreads on corporate
debt securities remained elevated and overall bank lending, after an initial spurt in the last
quarter of FY2019 (mostly lending to NBFCs), tapered off. Commercial credit witnessed
a sharp decline of almost 90% in the first half of FY2020. In the months of February and
March, 2020, the near-demise of Yes bank, a large private sector bank, triggered the risk
of deposit squeeze for private sector banks which would further curtail credit growth.11 As
a result, credit off-take during 2019-20 (up to March 13, 2020) was muted with non-food
credit growth at 6.1% being less than half the growth of 14.4% in the corresponding period
of the previous year (figure 5). This was also the lowest growth rate of non-food bank credit
in nearly six decades. In contrast, the fiscal deficit of the government was already high in
the pre-Covid-19 period and had breached the target as specified in the FRBM Act (Fiscal
Responsibility and Budget Management Act). The fiscal deficit of the central government
in 2019-20 was 4.6% of GDP against the target of 3.5% of GDP. This has been the highest
fiscal deficit since 2012-13. The Finance Minister in her Budget Speech of February 1,
2020 had pegged the target for FY2021 to 3.5% (table 1) which will be breached by a wide
margin. The FM had already used the escape clause provided under the FRBM Act to allow
the relaxation of target for 2019- 20. The clause allows the government to relax the fiscal
deficit target for up to 50 basis points or 0.5%. This shows that the government now has
very little fiscal room. The Azim Premji University revealed in its study that the 1st wave of
COVID 19 pandemic has pushed 23 crore people below the poverty line (below the national
minimum wage threshold of Rs. 375.00 per day as recommended by the Anoop Satpathy
committee). The report said that there has been a rise of 15% in poverty in rural India and a rise of
20% in urban India during the last one pandemic year.
“Had the pandemic not occurred, poverty would have declined by 5 percentage points in rural
areas and 1.5 percentage points in urban areas between 2019 and 2020, and 50 million would have
been lifted above this line,” it added. It further stated that “Mobility curbs resulted in income
losses because of decreased economic activity.

30
 Surge in Unemployment Rates

✓ Widespread Job Losses: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a widespread loss of jobs across
various sectors in India. Industries such as hospitality, tourism, retail, manufacturing, and
construction faced closures and layoffs, resulting in a significant increase in unemployment
rates.
✓ Disruptions in Economic Activities: The implementation of strict lockdown measures to curb
the spread of the virus disrupted economic activities. Businesses had to shut down or operate
with limited capacity, leading to reduced demand for labor and subsequent job losses.
✓ Impact on the Informal Sector: The informal sector, which constitutes a substantial portion
of the Indian workforce, experienced a severe blow. Daily wage laborers, street vendors, and
self-employed individuals in sectors like construction and daily labor faced a sudden loss.
✓ Reduced Consumer Spending: With job losses and income uncertainty, individuals and
households reduced their spending on non-essential items. This decline in consumer spending
had a ripple effect on businesses, further exacerbating the unemployment situation.
✓ Migrant Workers Stranded Without Jobs: Migrant workers, who form a significant part of
the workforce, were particularly affected. With the sudden halt in economic activities, many
found themselves stranded in cities without jobs or means to return to their home villages.
This added to the unemployment crisis and highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by this
segment of the workforce.
✓ Sector-Specific Impact: Different sectors experienced varying degrees of impact. Industries
such as hospitality, tourism, aviation, and retail were hit the hardest due to travel restrictions,
social distancing measures, and reduced consumer demand. On the other hand, sectors like
healthcare, e-commerce, and digital services witnessed increased demand and employment
opportunities.
✓ Gradual Recovery Challenges: As restrictions were lifted and economic activities resumed,
the recovery of employment has been gradual and uneven. Many businesses struggled to
reopen or resume full operations, leading to a slow recovery in job creation.
✓ Impact on Youth and Women: The pandemic had a significant impact on the employment
prospects of young people and women. Recent graduates faced difficulties in finding job
opportunities, while women, who are often employed in sectors heavily impacted by the
pandemic, faced higher job losses and greater challenges in reentering the workforce.These

31
 Challenges Faced by the Informal Sector

✓ Lack of Social Protection: Workers in the informal sector often lack access to social protection
measures such as unemployment benefits, health insurance, and retirement schemes. This
leaves them vulnerable during times of crisis, as they have limited financial support and safety
nets to rely on.
✓ Limited Savings and Financial Resilience: Many individuals working in the informal sector
live hand-to-mouth, with minimal savings or financial reserves. The sudden loss of income due
to the pandemic and lockdown measures left them struggling to meet their basic needs and cope
with the financial burden.
✓ Inadequate Access to Credit and Financial Services: Informal workers, especially those
without formal documentation, face challenges in accessing credit and financial services.
This limits their ability to borrow funds for business recovery or personal expenses during
times of economic distress.
✓ Dependence on Daily Earnings: The informal sector relies heavily on daily earnings for
sustenance. With the implementation of lockdown measures and restrictions on economic
activities, the flow of income abruptly stopped, leaving workers without a means to support
themselves and their families.
✓ Lack of Job Security and Employment Contracts: Informal workers often lack formal
employment contracts or job security. This makes them more susceptible to layoffs and job
losses during periods of economic downturn, as businesses prioritize cost-cutting measures.
✓ Challenges for Street Vendors and Self-Employed Individuals: Street vendors and self-
employed individuals, who form a significant part of the informal sector, faced multiple
challenges. Restrictions on movement and reduced footfall in public spaces severely
impacted their ability to generate income and sustain their businesses.
✓ Limited Access to Government Support: Despite government initiatives to provide relief
measures and financial support, many informal workers faced challenges in accessing these
benefits. Lack of awareness, bureaucratic hurdles, and difficulties in fulfilling eligibility
criteria posed obstacles in accessing the necessary support.
✓ Informal Workers as Migrant Laborers: A significant portion of the informal sector
comprises migrant workers who travel to different cities in search of employment. The
sudden halt in economic activities and restrictions on movement left many stranded without
jobs or means to return to their home villages.

32
 Gender Disparities in Unemployment

✓ Disproportionate Impact on Women: The pandemic had a disproportionate impact on

women in terms of job losses and unemployment rates. Women, particularly those employed
in sectors such as hospitality, retail, and informal work, faced higher job losses compared to
men. This has further widened gender inequalities in the workforce.
✓ Concentration in Affected Sectors: Women are often concentrated in sectors that were
heavily affected by the pandemic, such as hospitality, tourism, and retail. These sectors
experienced significant disruptions and closures, leading to a higher number of job losses
among female workers.
✓ Informal and Vulnerable Employment: Women in India are more likely to be employed
in the informal sector or engage in vulnerable forms of work. These informal and low-paid
jobs often lack social protection measures, leaving women more susceptible to economic
shocks and job losses during crises.
✓ Caregiving Responsibilities: The closure of schools and daycare centers during the
pandemic placed an additional burden on women, as they traditionally shoulder the majority
of caregiving responsibilities. Balancing work and caregiving became even more
challenging, leading some women to opt out of the workforce voluntarily or due to lack of
viable options.
✓ Limited Access to Digital Opportunities: The shift towards remote work and digital
platforms during the pandemic posed challenges for women, particularly those with limited
access to digital infrastructure. Women in rural areas or marginalized communities faced
difficulties in accessing job opportunities or participating in remote work due to inadequate
internet connectivity and lack of necessary devices.
✓ Gender Wage Gap: The gender wage gap, which already exists in the labor market, may
have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Job losses and disruptions may further widen the
wage gap, making it even more challenging for women to recover economically.
✓ Lack of Representation in Decision-Making: Women's voices and representation in
decision-making processes related to employment and economic recovery are crucial.
Ensuring their inclusion in policy discussions and decision-making bodies can help address
gender disparities and promote gender-responsive measures.Addressing gender disparities
in unemployment requires targeted interventions and policies that recognize and address the
unique challenges faced by women in the labor market.

33
 Skill Mismatch and Job Market Transformation

✓ Shift in Skill Demands: The pandemic has accelerated the transformation of the job
market, with shifts in skill demands. Some industries, such as healthcare, e-commerce, and
digital services, experienced increased demand, while others, such as hospitality and retail,
faced significant challenges. This resulted in a mismatch between the skills possessed by
workers and the skills required in the evolving job market.
✓ Impact on Traditional Job Roles: Traditional job roles have been disrupted, leading to a
need for upskilling and reskilling. Technological advancements and automation have
accelerated, requiring workers to adapt to new tools, platforms, and digital processes.
Workers in industries heavily impacted by the pandemic may need to acquire new skills to
remain employable.
✓ Digital Skills and Remote Work: The pandemic highlighted the importance of digital
skills as remote work became prevalent. Proficiency in digital communication, virtual
collaboration, and online tools became essential. Workers who lacked digital literacy and
access to necessary technology faced challenges in adapting to remote work opportunities.
✓ Challenges for Certain Demographic Groups: Certain demographic groups, such as
older workers or individuals with limited educational backgrounds, may face specific
challenges in upskilling or reskilling. The digital divide and limited access to learning
opportunities can hinder their ability to acquire new skills and compete in the job market.
✓ Need for Lifelong Learning: The pandemic emphasized the importance of lifelong
learning to adapt to changing job market dynamics. Workers need to embrace continuous
learning and acquire new skills throughout their careers to remain competitive and resilient
in the face of economic disruptions.
✓ Role of Training and Education Institutions: Training and education institutions play a
critical role in addressing skill mismatch and facilitating job market transformation. They
need to offer relevant and accessible programs that equip individuals with the skills needed
for emerging job roles. Collaboration between educational institutions, industry
stakeholders, and government agencies is crucial to aligning training programs with market
demands.
✓ Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The pandemic has also encouraged entrepreneurship
and innovation as individuals explore new business opportunities and adapt to changing
market needs. Entrepreneurial skills, such as adaptability, creativity, and risk-taking, are
becoming increasingly valuable in navigating the evolving.

34
 Digital Divide and Remote Work Challenges

✓ Unequal Access to Digital Infrastructure: The digital divide refers to the gap between
individuals and communities that have access to digital technologies and those who do not. In
India, there is a significant disparity in access to digital infrastructure, including reliable
internet connectivity, computers, and smartphones. This divide has been a major challenge
during the pandemic, as remote work and online communication became crucial
✓ Limited Internet Connectivity: Many rural areas and marginalized communities in India
face limited or unreliable internet connectivity. This hampers their ability to participate in
remote work, online learning, and other digital activities. The lack of access to high-speed
internet adversely affects productivity and inhibits individuals from taking advantage of
remote work opportunities.
✓ Inadequate Technology Infrastructure: Remote work often requires specific technology
infrastructure, such as computers, laptops, and software tools. Many individuals, particularly
those in low-income households, may lack access to such devices. The absence of necessary
technology poses a barrier to remote work participation and limits job opportunities for those
without access.
✓ Skill Gaps and Digital Literacy: The digital divide is not only about access to technology
but also about the skills and knowledge needed to utilize digital tools effectively. Digital
literacy, including proficiency in using digital platforms and tools, is essential for remote
work. However, individuals with limited exposure to digital technologies may face challenges
in acquiring and applying these skills.
✓ Work-Life Imbalance and Infrastructure Constraints: Remote work poses unique
challenges in terms of work-life balance, especially in households where multiple family
members share limited space and resources. Balancing work responsibilities with household
chores, childcare, and other family obligations can be particularly demanding in such
situations.
✓ Mental Health and Social Isolation: Remote work can contribute to feelings of social
isolation and loneliness, especially when individuals lack regular in-person interaction with
colleagues and support networks. The absence of a physical work environment and social
connections can impact mental health and well-being.

35
 Government Measures and Relief Programs

✓ Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY): The PMGKY was launched to provide
immediate relief to vulnerable sections of society. It included measures such as free foodgrains,
cash transfers to women, elderly, and differently-abled individuals, and enhanced wages under
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
✓ Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan: The Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India
Campaign) was introduced as an economic stimulus package to revive various sectors of the
economy. It included measures such as collateral-free loans for small businesses, liquidity
support for stressed sectors, and initiatives to promote local manufacturing and self-reliance.
✓ Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): The government utilized the Direct Benefit Transfer system
to provide financial assistance directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries. This ensured
efficient and transparent delivery of relief funds and subsidies.
✓ PM CARES Fund: The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency
Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was established to support relief efforts during the
pandemic. It aimed to mobilize donations from individuals, organizations, and corporations to
provide healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, and support to affected individuals and
families.
✓ Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS): The ECLGS was launched to provide
financial support to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the pandemic.
It offered collateral-free loans to eligible businesses, providing them with working capital to
meet their operational needs and sustain employment.
✓ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): The PMKVY is a skill development
program aimed at enhancing the employability of the workforce. The government continued its
efforts to provide online skilling opportunities and vocational training during the pandemic to
help individuals acquire new skills and enhance their job prospects.

36
 Long-Term Challenges and Recovery Efforts

Long-Term Challenges:

✓ Economic Recovery: The pandemic has had a significant impact on the Indian economy,
resulting in job losses, business closures, and reduced economic activity. The long-term
challenge is to revive and rebuild the economy, ensuring sustainable growth and creating
new employment opportunities.
✓ Education and Learning Gap: School closures and disruptions in education have widened
the learning gap among students. The challenge is to address the educational setbacks and
ensure access to quality education for all, especially for marginalized communities who may
have limited access to online learning resources.
✓ Health Infrastructure Strengthening: The pandemic exposed the weaknesses in the
healthcare infrastructure. To prepare for future health emergencies, it is crucial to invest in
strengthening healthcare systems, including increasing hospital capacities, enhancing
healthcare facilities, and improving healthcare access in remote areas.
✓ Social Inequality: The pandemic has exacerbated existing social inequalities, including
income disparities, gender disparities, and disparities in access to healthcare and education.
Addressing these inequalities and promoting social inclusion is a long-term challenge that
requires targeted policies and interventions.
✓ Mental Health and Well-being: The pandemic has taken a toll on mental health, with
increased stress, anxiety, and depression among individuals. The long-term challenge is to
prioritize mental health services, raise awareness, and ensure access to mental health support
for those in need.

37
 Recovery Efforts:

✓ Vaccination Drive: The vaccination campaign plays a crucial role in curbing the spread of
the virus and achieving herd immunity. Continued efforts to ramp up vaccination coverage
and ensure equitable access to vaccines are essential for a successful recovery.
✓ Job Creation and Skill Development: Creating new employment opportunities and
promoting skill development are vital for economic recovery. Government initiatives and
collaborations with industries can help facilitate job creation, upskilling, and reskilling
programs to match the evolving job market demands.
✓ Infrastructure Development: Investment in infrastructure development, such as transport,
energy, and digital connectivity, can boost economic growth and create employment
opportunities. Strategic infrastructure projects can contribute to long-term recovery efforts
and enhance overall development.
✓ Support for Small Businesses and MSMEs: Small businesses and Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Providing
financial support, access to credit, and business assistance programs can aid their recovery
and contribute to economic revival.
✓ Social Welfare Programs: Strengthening social welfare programs, including income
support schemes, healthcare coverage, and social security measures, can provide a safety net
for vulnerable populations and help address social inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.
✓ Green and Sustainable Recovery: Emphasizing sustainability and environmental
consciousness in recovery efforts can contribute to a greener and more resilient future.
Promoting renewable energy, sustainable practices, and environmentally friendly initiatives
can create new job opportunities while addressing climate change concerns.The long-term
recovery efforts require a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach, involving
government, private sector, civil society organizations, and international cooperation. By
addressing the challenges and implementing recovery strategies, India can work towards
building a more resilient and inclusive society in the post-pandemic era.

38
 Mental Health Implications of Unemployment

✓ Stress and Anxiety: Losing a job and the uncertainty of future employment can lead to
heightened stress and anxiety levels. The financial strain, fear of not being able to meet
basic needs, and concerns about the future can contribute to increased stress and anxiety.
✓ Depression and Low Self-Esteem: Unemployment can lead to feelings of depression and
low self-esteem. The loss of a job can result in a sense of loss of identity, purpose, and
social connection. Individuals may experience a decline in self-worth and struggle with
feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
✓ Social Isolation and Loneliness: Being unemployed can lead to social isolation and
feelings of loneliness. The lack of regular social interactions that come with a workplace
environment can negatively impact mental well-being. This can further exacerbate
feelings of depression and anxiety.
✓ Loss of Routine and Structure: Unemployment often disrupts daily routines and
structures that provide a sense of purpose and stability. Without the structure of work,
individuals may struggle to maintain a sense of direction, productivity, and motivation.
This loss of routine can contribute to feelings of confusion and a lack of fulfillment.
✓ Impact on Relationships: Unemployment can strain relationships, especially if there are
financial difficulties or conflicts arising from the situation. The stress of unemployment
may lead to tension, arguments, and a sense of burden on relationships, which can further
impact mental health.
✓ Increased Risk of Substance Abuse: Unemployment has been linked to an increased
risk of substance abuse. Individuals facing unemployment may turn to alcohol, drugs, or
other substances as a means of coping with the stress, anxiety, and depression associated
with job loss.
✓ Impact on Physical Health: Unemployment can also have implications for physical
health. The stress and anxiety associated with unemployment can contribute to sleep
disturbances, changes in appetite, and an increased risk of developing chronic health
conditions.It is important to note that mental health implications can vary from person to
person, and individuals may experience a range of emotions and challenges depending on
their unique circumstances. Seeking support from mental health professionals, engaging.

39
 Building Economic Resilience for the Future

✓ Diversify the Economy: Relying on a single industry or sector can make an economy
vulnerable to shocks. Promoting diversification by developing multiple industries and sectors
can help reduce dependency on a specific sector and spread risks. This includes supporting the
growth of emerging industries, encouraging entrepreneurship, and fostering innovation.
✓ Invest in Human Capital: Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce is essential for
economic resilience. Investments in education, vocational training, and continuous learning
programs can enhance human capital, ensuring that individuals have the skills and knowledge
required to adapt to changing economic circumstances. This enables a more flexible and
resilient workforce that can easily transition between sectors and industries.
✓ Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): SMEs play a vital role in the economy
and are often more agile in adapting to changing circumstances. Supporting SMEs through
access to finance, technology, and business development services can enhance their resilience.
This can be done through targeted policies, incentives, and capacity-building programs.
✓ Foster Innovation and Research: Encouraging innovation and research can drive economic
resilience. Investments in research and development, technology transfer, and collaboration
between academia and industry can lead to the development of new products, services, and
processes. This innovation-driven approach can enable economies to adapt quickly to changing
market dynamics.
✓ Enhance Infrastructure: Reliable and efficient infrastructure is crucial for economic
resilience. Investments in transportation, energy, digital connectivity, and social infrastructure
can improve productivity, attract investment, and create an enabling environment for
businesses. Developing resilient infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters and other
shocks is also important.
✓ Promote Regional and International Cooperation: Strengthening regional and international
cooperation can enhance economic resilience. Collaboration with neighboring countries and
international partners can provide access to larger markets, diversify trade, and facilitate
knowledge-sharing and resource pooling during times of crisis. This includes fostering trade
agreements, regional economic integration, and joint initiatives for research and development.
✓ Build Financial Resilience: Strengthening the financial sector is crucial for economic
resilience. Ensuring the stability of financial institutions, promoting financial literacy, and
implementing robust regulatory frameworks can mitigate risks and enhance the ability to
absorb.

40
 Initial Job Losses and Disruptions

✓ Lockdown Measures: To control the spread of the virus, the Indian government
implemented strict lockdown measures, including the temporary closure of businesses and
restrictions on movement. These measures severely impacted economic activities and
resulted in immediate job losses.
✓ Impact on Specific Sectors: Certain sectors were particularly affected by the pandemic and
witnessed substantial job losses during the initial phase. Industries such as aviation,
hospitality, tourism, retail, and entertainment faced a sharp decline in demand, leading to
layoffs and closures of businesses.
✓ Manufacturing and Supply Chain Disruptions: The disruption in global supply chains
and reduced manufacturing activities due to lockdowns had a cascading effect on
employment. Many manufacturing units had to shut down temporarily, resulting in layoffs
and a decline in employment opportunities.
✓ Informal and Daily Wage Workers: The informal sector, which constitutes a significant
portion of India's workforce, experienced a severe blow during the initial phase of the
pandemic. Daily wage earners, street vendors, and self-employed individuals faced a sudden
loss of income and employment opportunities.
✓ Impact on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): MSMEs, which form the
backbone of the Indian economy, were severely affected by the pandemic. These businesses
struggled to sustain operations due to financial constraints, supply chain disruptions, and
reduced demand, leading to job losses and closures.
✓ Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Groups: The initial job losses and disruptions
had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, women, and
marginalized communities. Migrant workers, in particular, faced challenges in returning to
their home states and suffered from job losses and limited access to social support.
✓ Urban-Rural Divide: The impact of initial job losses and disruptions varied between urban
and rural areas. Urban centers with a higher concentration of service-based industries and
informal sector activities experienced a more significant impact, while rural areas faced
challenges due to disruptions in agriculture and limited employment opportunities.It is
important to note that the initial phase of job losses and disruptions was followed by various
government interventions and recovery efforts aimed at mitigating the impact and reviving
the job market opportunities.

41
 "Sectoral Impact on Employment"

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on various sectors of the Indian economy,
leading to significant disruptions in employment.

✓ Service Sector: The service sector, including industries such as hospitality, tourism, retail, and
entertainment, experienced a severe downturn during the pandemic. Travel restrictions, social
distancing measures, and reduced consumer spending resulted in job losses and closures of
businesses in these sectors.
✓ Manufacturing and Industrial Sector: The manufacturing sector faced disruptions due to
supply chain disruptions, reduced demand, and temporary closures during the initial phase of the
pandemic. This led to layoffs and a decline in employment opportunities, particularly in
industries such as automotive, textiles, and consumer durables.
✓ Construction and Real Estate: The construction sector was significantly affected by the
pandemic as construction activities were halted or slowed down due to labor shortages, supply
chain disruptions, and financial constraints. The real estate sector also witnessed a decline in
demand, leading to reduced employment opportunities.
✓ Information Technology (IT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): The IT and BPO
sectors demonstrated more resilience compared to other sectors. With the shift towards remote
work and increased reliance on digital services, these sectors experienced a relatively lower
impact on employment. However, some job losses and adjustments in work arrangements were
observed.
✓ Agriculture and Allied Sectors: The agriculture sector, being essential for food production and
supply, witnessed comparatively less impact on employment. However, labor shortages during
certain phases of the pandemic, transportation challenges, and market disruptions affected
employment in allied sectors such as food processing and logistics.
✓ Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector: The healthcare sector played a critical role during the
pandemic and witnessed an increased demand for healthcare services and pharmaceutical
products. This sector saw a surge in employment opportunities, particularly in areas related to
healthcare professionals, medical research, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
✓ Financial Services and Banking: The financial services sector faced challenges due to the
economic slowdown, reduced business activity, and increased credit risks.

42
 "Informal Sector and Daily Wage Workers"

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the informal sector and daily wage
workers in India. Here are some key points highlighting the challenges faced by this vulnerable
segment of the workforce:

✓ Lack of Social Security: Informal sector workers, who often lack formal employment
contracts and social security benefits, were particularly vulnerable during the pandemic.
They faced challenges such as limited access to healthcare, inadequate savings, and no
unemployment benefits, making it difficult to cope with the sudden loss of income
✓ Loss of Livelihood: The lockdown measures and restrictions imposed to curb the spread
of the virus resulted in the closure of many businesses and a halt in economic activities.
Daily wage workers, street vendors, and self-employed individuals were severely affected
as their livelihoods heavily depended on daily earnings. The loss of income had a direct
and immediate impact on their ability to meet basic needs and sustain their households.
✓ Migrant Workers: Migrant workers, who often work in the informal sector, faced
significant challenges during the pandemic. With the sudden shutdown of economic
activities, many found themselves stranded in cities without means to sustain themselves
or return to their home states. The lack of job opportunities and limited access to social
support compounded their difficulties.
✓ Informal Sector Challenges: The informal sector, which encompasses a wide range of
activities such as street vending, small-scale manufacturing, and unorganized services,
faced disruptions in the supply chain, reduced demand, and restrictions on mobility. These
challenges resulted in layoffs, reduced working hours, and income instability for workers
in the informal sector.
✓ Access to Financial Support: Many informal sector workers faced difficulties in
accessing financial support and relief measures announced by the government. The lack of
formal documentation, such as bank accounts and identification proofs, often created
barriers in availing assistance programs and financial aid.
✓ Health and Safety Risks: Informal sector workers faced increased health and safety risks
during the pandemic due to their work environments and limited access to protective
measures. Jobs in sectors like construction, waste management, and domestic work.

43
 "Urban vs. Rural Unemployment Disparities during COVID-19"

✓ Urban Unemployment: Urban areas, which are often characterized by a higher concentration
of formal employment and service-based industries, experienced a significant increase in
unemployment rates. The strict lockdown measures, closure of businesses, and reduced
consumer demand led to layoffs and job losses in sectors such as hospitality, tourism, retail,
and entertainment
✓ .Informal Sector Impact: Urban areas have a substantial informal sector, comprising daily
wage workers, street vendors, and self-employed individuals. The informal sector was severely
affected by the pandemic, as economic activities came to a halt. Many urban informal sector
workers lost their livelihoods and faced challenges in finding alternative sources of income.
✓ Migrant Workers: Urban areas witnessed a large-scale exodus of migrant workers during the
initial phases of the pandemic. With job losses and uncertainty, many migrant workers returned
to their rural hometowns. The urban-rural migration of workers further contributed to increased
unemployment rates in urban areas.
✓ Rural Unemployment: Rural areas, which have a higher dependency on agriculture and allied
activities, experienced a relatively lower impact on employment during the pandemic.
However, the closure of markets, transportation challenges, and disruptions in the supply chain
did affect rural livelihoods, particularly for those engaged in non-farm activities and
agriculture-related industries.
✓ Seasonal Agriculture and Harvesting: Rural areas faced specific challenges due to the
pandemic's timing coinciding with crucial agricultural seasons and harvests. Restrictions on
movement, labor shortages, and logistical disruptions affected agricultural activities, leading to
uncertainties in rural employment.
✓ Skewed Distribution of Opportunities: Disparities in employment opportunities between
urban and rural areas existed even before the pandemic. Urban areas tend to offer a wider range
of formal employment opportunities, while rural areas often face limited job prospects,
resulting in a higher proportion of underemployment and informal sector engagement.
✓ Government Initiatives: The government implemented various measures to address
unemployment disparities between urban and rural areas. Initiatives such as rural employment
guarantee schemes, infrastructure development projects, and support for agricultural activities
aimed to create job opportunities and stimulate rural economies.Addressing the urban-rural
unemployment disparities requires a multi-faceted approach, including promoting rural.

44
 "Skill Mismatch and Job Market Challenges during COVID-19"

✓ Changing Skill Requirements: The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital
technologies and remote work, leading to a shift in skill requirements. Many traditional job
roles have become obsolete or less relevant, while new skills such as digital literacy, data
analysis, virtual collaboration, and remote communication have become increasingly
important.
✓ Disruption in Education and Training: The closure of educational institutions and training
centers during the pandemic has disrupted the learning and skill development process.
Students, job seekers, and employees faced challenges in accessing quality education and
training opportunities, hindering their ability to acquire new skills and adapt to changing
market demands.
✓ Job Losses in Specific Sectors: Certain sectors, such as travel, hospitality, retail, and
entertainment, have experienced significant job losses due to the pandemic. The skills
possessed by workers in these sectors may not easily transfer to other industries, resulting in
a skill mismatch between available jobs and the skills of the unemployed workforce.
✓ Unemployment of Skilled Workers: Skilled workers in industries heavily affected by the
pandemic have also faced challenges in finding suitable employment opportunities. Their
specialized skills may not be in high demand during the crisis, leading to unemployment or
underemployment.
✓ Demand for Essential Workers: On the other hand, there has been increased demand for
essential workers in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and e-commerce. The shortage of
workers with the necessary skills and expertise to meet this demand has created skill gaps in
these critical sectors.
✓ Reskilling and Upskilling Initiatives: To address the skill mismatch and job market
challenges, reskilling and upskilling initiatives have gained importance. Governments,
educational institutions, and organizations have introduced programs and courses to help
individuals acquire new skills, enhance existing ones, and align their skill set with emerging
job market needs.
✓ Remote Work Skills: The shift to remote work has required employees to develop new
skills related to remote collaboration, virtual communication, time management, and self-
motivation. These skills have become essential for individuals to adapt to the remote work
environment and remain productive.

45
 Migration and Unemployment in covid 19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on migration patterns and has
contributed to increased unemployment rates in various regions. Here are some key points
highlighting the relationship between migration and unemployment during the pandemic:

✓ Reverse Migration: The pandemic triggered a large-scale reverse migration phenomenon,

particularly in countries like India, where migrant workers moved from urban areas back to
their rural hometowns. With the loss of jobs, lack of financial support, and concerns about
health and safety, many migrant workers opted to return to their native places, resulting in
increased unemployment rates in urban areas
✓ Job Losses in Urban Areas: Urban areas, which have a high concentration of industries
and businesses, were severely affected by the pandemic-induced lockdowns. Many
businesses faced closures or downsizing, leading to a significant number of job losses.
Migrant workers, who often work in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality,
and services, were particularly vulnerable to job cuts, contributing to increased urban
unemployment.
✓ Lack of Job Opportunities in Rural Areas: While migrants returned to rural areas seeking
safety and support, the availability of employment opportunities in these regions was limited.
Rural areas typically have fewer job prospects, and the sudden influx of migrant workers
further intensified competition for limited employment opportunities, resulting in higher
unemployment rates in rural areas as well.
✓ Informal Sector Challenges: Migrant workers often find employment in the informal
sector, which was heavily impacted by the pandemic. Informal sector activities such as street
vending, construction, and small-scale industries experienced disruptions, closures, and
reduced demand, leading to job losses and unemployment among migrant workers.
✓ Skewed Regional Development: The pandemic highlighted the existing regional disparities
in terms of economic development and employment opportunities. Urban areas, with their
concentration of industries and services, typically offer more job opportunities compared to
rural areas. The disruption caused by the pandemic further widened the gap, with urban areas
facing higher unemployment rates compared to already economically disadvantaged rural
regions.

46
 Government Initiatives and Relief Programs in unemployment

Governments around the world have implemented various initiatives and relief programs to
mitigate the impact of unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some key
points highlighting the government measures taken to support individuals and businesses
affected by unemployment:

✓ Unemployment Benefits: Many governments have expanded or introduced unemployment

benefit schemes to provide financial support to individuals who have lost their jobs due to the
pandemic. These benefits include cash payments or temporary income replacement to help
individuals meet their basic needs while they search for new employment opportunities
✓ Wage Subsidy Programs: Governments have implemented wage subsidy programs to
support businesses and encourage them to retain their employees. These programs provide
financial assistance to businesses to cover a portion of their employees' wages, reducing the
likelihood of layoffs and maintaining employment levels.
✓ Job Retraining and Skill Development: Governments have focused on retraining and
upskilling initiatives to enhance the employability of individuals affected by unemployment.
Programs offering free or subsidized training courses, vocational programs, and online
learning platforms have been introduced to help individuals acquire new skills and adapt to
changing job market demands.
✓ Small Business Support: Governments have provided assistance to small businesses and
startups impacted by the pandemic. Measures such as grants, loans, and tax incentives have
been implemented to help these businesses retain their workforce, cover operating costs, and
navigate the economic downturn.
✓ Job Placement Services: Governments have strengthened job placement services and
employment centers to facilitate the matching of job seekers with available job opportunities.
Online job portals, virtual career fairs, and counseling services have been established to
connect individuals with employers and support their job search efforts.
✓ Entrepreneurship Support: Governments have promoted entrepreneurship and self-
employment as alternatives to traditional employment. Initiatives such as startup incubation
programs, business mentoring, access to finance, and simplified regulatory frameworks have
been introduced to encourage individuals to start their own businesses and create employment
opportunities.

47
 Manufacturing and Industrial Job Losses during covid 19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the manufacturing and industrial
sectors, leading to substantial job losses worldwide. Here are some key points highlighting
the manufacturing and industrial job losses during the pandemic:

✓ Disruptions in Supply Chains: The pandemic disrupted global supply chains, affecting the
manufacturing sector's ability to procure raw materials, components, and finished goods.
Lockdown measures, travel restrictions, and reduced international trade led to production
slowdowns or closures of manufacturing facilities, resulting in job losses.
✓ Decline in Consumer Demand: The economic downturn caused by the pandemic led to a
decline in consumer demand for non-essential goods and durable products. Industries such as
automotive, aerospace, electronics, and consumer goods experienced a significant drop in
sales, leading to reduced production levels and subsequent job cuts.
✓ Temporary and Permanent Layoffs: Many manufacturing and industrial companies
resorted to temporary or permanent layoffs to cope with reduced production and financial
challenges. Temporary layoffs were intended to be a short-term measure during periods of
low demand, while permanent layoffs were often a result of businesses restructuring or
downsizing operations.
✓ Impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): SMEs in the manufacturing sector
faced significant challenges during the pandemic. Limited financial resources, reduced access
to credit, and a lack of diversification made them more vulnerable to market disruptions,
leading to job losses and business closures.
✓ Automation and Technological Advances: The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of
automation and digital technologies in manufacturing. Companies seeking to reduce
dependence on human labor and minimize the risk of future disruptions have expedited plans
to implement robotic systems and advanced manufacturing technologies. While this trend
enhances operational efficiency, it may also result in fewer job opportunities for manual
laborers.
✓ Shifts in Industrial Priorities: Some manufacturing sectors experienced shifts in priorities
during the pandemic. For example, industries related to personal protective equipment (PPE),
medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals witnessed increased demand, leading to job growth in
these specific segments.

48
 "Impact on Hospitality and Tourism Sector in Unemployment"

✓ Travel Restrictions and Border Closures: The implementation of travel restrictions and
border closures as a response to the pandemic significantly impacted the tourism sector. With
limited or no international and domestic travel, hotels, resorts, airlines, tour operators, and
other tourism-related businesses faced a severe decline in demand, leading to widespread
job losses.
✓ Closure of Accommodation and Food Service Establishments: Hotels, restaurants, cafes,
and other establishments providing accommodation and food services experienced forced
closures or significant reductions in operations due to lockdown measures and social
distancing requirements. As a result, employees in these establishments, including hotel
staff, chefs, waitstaff, and housekeeping personnel, faced layoffs and reduced working
hours.
✓ Event and Entertainment Industry Disruptions: The cancellation or postponement of
events, conferences, concerts, and other large-scale gatherings affected the hospitality and
tourism sector. This had a cascading effect on businesses such as event management
companies, convention centers, event venues, and related service providers, leading to job
losses in these segments.
✓ Decline in Tourism Demand: The fear of contracting the virus, travel advisories, and
economic uncertainties caused a significant decline in tourism demand. Both leisure and
business travel declined, affecting airlines, travel agencies, tour operators, and other
businesses dependent on visitor spending. Consequently, layoffs and job cuts were prevalent
in these sectors.
✓ Seasonal Tourism Challenges: Many tourist destinations heavily rely on seasonal tourism,
which was severely impacted during the pandemic. The closure of ski resorts, beach
destinations, and other seasonal attractions during peak travel periods resulted in job losses
for seasonal workers and limited employment opportunities.
✓ Small Business Closures: The hospitality and tourism sector consists of a significant
number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These businesses faced financial
strain and were unable to sustain their operations, leading to closures and subsequent job
losses. This affected various sectors, including family-owned hotels, guesthouses, tour
operators, and local travel agencies.

49
 CHAPTER-03
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

50
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India, a comprehensive

research methodology was adopted. This methodology aimed to gather accurate and reliable
data, analyze the findings, and draw meaningful conclusions. The following paragraphs outline
the key components of the research methodology.Research DesignA mixed-methods approach
was employed, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This approach
allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the topic, exploring statistical trends as well as
capturing the experiences and perspectives of individuals affected by unemployment.

o Data collection :-

✓ Primary Data
✓ Secondary data

PRIMARY DATA:

"In order to gather primary data on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India,
a survey was conducted among a sample of 500 individuals across different regions and age
groups. The survey questionnaire consisted of structured questions aimed at understanding the
respondents' employment status before and during the pandemic, the reasons for job loss or
reduced working hours, and the challenges faced in finding new employment opportunities.
Additionally, open-ended questions were included to capture personal experiences, coping
mechanisms, and suggestions for government intervention. insights into the specific impact of
COVID-19 on unemployment in India."

SECONDARY DATA:

"Secondary data on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India was obtained from
various reliable sources such as government reports, research papers, and statistical databases.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment in India regularly publishes reports and updates on
employment trends, providing valuable insights into the impact of the pandemic on the labor
market. National statistical agencies such as the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) also provide data on employment and.

51
 Objectives :-

The objectives of the study on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India can
be summarized with the following points:

✓ To assess the magnitude of unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in

India.
✓ To identify the sectors most affected by job losses and the demographic
groupsdisproportionately impacted.
✓ To examine the underlying factors contributing to the surge in unemployment, such
as business closures, supply chain disruptions, and reduced consumer demand.
✓ To explore the challenges faced by individuals in finding new employment
opportunities and the barriers to rejoining the workforce.
✓ To analyze the socio-economic consequences of unemployment, including income
loss, poverty risks, and implications for household well-being.
✓ To investigate the effectiveness of government measures and relief programs in
mitigating the impact of unemployment and supporting affected individuals and
businesses.
✓ To understand the long-term implications of the pandemic on the labor market and
job prospects in India.
✓ To provide insights and recommendations for policy interventions and strategies to
promote employment recovery and resilience in the face of future crises.
By addressing these objectives, the study aims to contribute to a comprehensive
understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India and provide valuable
insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in designing targeted interventions
and strategies for economic recovery.

52
 Hypothesis

Hypothesis 1: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in unemployment

rates in India across various sectors and regions.

Hypothesis 2: Certain demographic groups, such as youth, women, and informal workers,
have experienced a higher magnitude of job losses during the pandemic.

Hypothesis 3: The severity of the impact on unemployment varies across different sectors,
with industries such as hospitality, tourism, and manufacturing being more adversely affected.

Hypothesis 4: Government measures and relief programs have played a crucial role in
mitigating the impact of unemployment and supporting affected individuals and businesses.

Hypothesis 5: Skill mismatch and job market challenges have intensified during the
pandemic, leading to difficulties in reemployment and increased job insecurity.

Hypothesis 6: The digital divide and remote work challenges have widened existing
disparities in employment opportunities and access to job markets.

Hypothesis 7: There is a correlation between the economic downturn caused by the pandemic
and the mental health implications, such as increased stress, anxiety, and depression among
the unemployed population.

Hypothesis 8: Building economic resilience through measures such as skill development,

entrepreneurship support, and investment in technological advancements can help mitigate the
long-term impact of unemployment and aid in the recovery proces

53
 Scope of the study :-

The scope of the study on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India encompasses
a comprehensive analysis of the various dimensions and factors associated with the phenomenon.
The study aims to explore the magnitude of unemployment, sectoral implications, demographic
disparities, and socio-economic consequences brought about by the pandemic. It also seeks to
examine the effectiveness of government measures and relief programs in mitigating the impact
of unemployment and supporting affected individuals and businesses.In terms of geographical
scope, the study focuses specifically on India, taking into account the diverse regional dynamics
and variations in the labor market across different states and union territories. The analysis
includes both urban and rural areas to assess the disparities in unemployment rates and the
differential impacts on different segments of the population.

Limitations of the study :-

Data LimitationsThe study relies on the availability and accuracy of data from various
sources, including government reports, surveys, and statistical databases. There may be
limitations in the quality and timeliness of the data, as well as potential discrepancies or
underreporting in unemployment figures.Sampling BiasThe study's findings are based on a
sample of individuals or organizations selected for data collection. The sample may not fully
represent the entire population affected by unemployment in India, leading to potential sampling
bias. Efforts are made to ensure diversity in the sample, but there may still be limitations in
capturing the experiences of all demographic groups and sectors.Self-Reporting Biashe study
relies on self-reported data, such as survey responses and interviews, which are subject to
individual perception, memory recall, and response bias. Participants may provide inaccurate or
incomplete information, impacting the reliability of the find

54
 Significance of the study :-

Policy Formulation: The findings of this study can provide valuable insights for
policymakers in designing and implementing effective measures to address the challenges
posed by COVID-19-induced unemployment. It can aid in formulating targeted policies and
interventions to support affected individuals, industries, and regions, fostering economic
recovery and resilience.Resource Allocation: Understanding the magnitude and sectoral
implications of unemployment can help allocate resources more efficiently. By identifying
the most affected sectors and demographic groups, policymakers can prioritize resource .

Selection of the problem :-

The selection of the problem of studying the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment

in India stems from the urgent need to understand and address the socio-economic
repercussions of the pandemic. The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 crisis and its
profound impact on the labor market necessitate a focused examination of the
unemployment situation in India.The problem of rising unemployment triggered by the
pandemic is a critical concern that affects millions of individuals and their livelihoods. By
selecting this problem for study, researchers aim to contribute to the existing knowledge
base, provide insights into the specific challenges faced by individuals and industries, and
offer evidence-based recommendations for policy formulation and intervention

Tabulation of data :-

Tabulation of data is a systematic way of organizing and presenting information in a

structured format, typically using tables or charts. It allows researchers to summarize and
visualize the collected data, making it easier to analyze patterns, trends, and relationships.In
the study on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India, tabulation of data plays a
crucial role in presenting key findings and facilitating data analysis. The collected data,
including primary and secondary sources, can be organized and categorized based on
relevant variables such as demographic characteristics, employment sectors, and time
periods.Tabulating the data allows for a comprehensive overview of the unemployment
situation in India during the pandemic.

55
 Chapter -04

LITERATURE REVIEW

56
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A literature review or narrative review is a type of review article. A literature

review is a scholarly paper, which includes the current knowledge including substantive
findings, as well as theoretical and methodological contribution to a particular topic. Literature
reviews are secondary sources, and do not report new or original experimental work. Most
often associated with academic-oriented literature, such reviews are a basis or research in
nearly every academic field.

✓ Arnab Roy (2015) carried out a study on youth unemployment conditions in India. The
India is a fastest economic growing country in world. However, the growths of youngsters’
population were occurred unemployment. The unemployment is common for both developed
and developing countries. The education level is increased but the skill development is quiet
critical subject. The study focuses on youth unemployment, unemployment trend among
youth, problems faced by youth and challenges faced by youth. For the census of 2011, 28
% of youths were unemployed. More over 93 % of youths are working in informal sector.
The most important point is 40 % of Indian population aged between 13 to 35 years. The
current scenario youth is prone to frustration and lack of interest to do something. The world
development report is report on 2013, 9 % of males and 11 % female youths are unemployed.
Finally, this study concluded that India need to create over one million jobs per annum.

57
✓ Jabir Hasan Khan & Shemshad (2012) carried out a study on unemployment levels of
socio-economic deprivation in India: A regional prospective. Unemployment is a very
important problem compared to other problems in the world. It is create severe problems
like poverty, malnutrition and under nutrition, hunger, houseline’s’, slums and squatter
settlements, crimes, child labour, inequality and begging. The study examine the various
forms of unemployment in India to inspect the geo graphical scale of socio-economic
deprivation, to discover the connection between the unemployment (dependent variable) and
socioeconomic variables of deprivation (independent variables) in India. The study area
selected from whole India including union territories. Data collection was carried out from
secondary data like census of India publications New Delhi. The study methodology is test
of hypothesis and simple linear regression model.

✓ Jaganath Behera (2013) carried out a study jobless growth in India in 2000’s. This
present study mainly concentrate on growth in output and employment in the post reform
era, nature of employment in the post reform era and relationship between productivity
and employment elasticity. The necessary data’s are carried out from national account
statistics (NAS) and national sample survey organization (NSSO). This study were
contains the detail of broad trends of out of the Indian economy and growth in
employment. In India 51 % of population were worked in self-employment, 33 % peoples
are causal labours and 16 % peoples are regular labour. Data was carried out from 66th
NSS report. The result shows that to increase the national production capacity and
increase exports on products.

✓ Ritu & Nareshkumar (2013) carried out a study on trend and pattern of unemployment
and inflation in India. The Indian economy is a third largest economy in the world, at the
same time the growth of Indian economy was very slow. For this situation lot of reasons
were takes placed like poverty, unemployment, inflation, fiscal deficit, account deficit
and depreciation of rupees value. The Indian population is increased in the rate of 2.1 %
per year. In this study shows India is the second highest unemployment country in the
world after South Africa. The unemployment rate is 9.8 million in January 2010. It is
increase to 10.8 million after January 2012. The work force is 47.2 crore.

58
 ✓ Elena Philip & Anthonima K. Robin (2015) carried out a study on globalization,
employment unemployment in India. This study based on the analysis of globalization,
Indian economy, employment and unemployment in India. The study focuses on know
the conditions of employment in different sectors and to provide suggestions for
employment opportunities. The data collection was carried out from secondary data. The
India having large number of youngsters in world that people’s age is below 40. The
employments of those peoples were very difficult. The most of the youngsters from urban
and semi-urban areas is employed, but the people who came from rural areas are still
seeking for employment. This study was carried out the details of statistical reports about
agricultural and non-agricultural employment, surveys on employment and
unemployment in past years, employments in public and organized private sectors in
previous years and percentage distributions of workers in formal/informal employments.
From the survey, it is note that India is having 2.8 percentages of open unemployment
and 4.41 percentages of under unemployment. Overall unemployment rate was 7.32
percentages. Finally, there is a need to generate the employment opportunities. The
jawahar rozgar yojana and the prime ministers gram rozgar yojana shames will hope to
reduce the level of under unemployment.

✓ Bashir Ahmad Sofi & Effat Yasmin (2011) carried a study on magnitude of educational
unemployment among rural youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The unemployment rate is
depends on economic growth of the country. When the production of country is increased
and the employment has increased. In past decades, India developed in economics growth,
production, population and employment as well as the unemployment rate increased. Every
five years plans have been provide employment opportunities, but it not enough compared
to our youth population. The unemployment was very high in rural India. The important
reasons for the unemployment are defective educational system, lack of entrepreneurship
and mismatch the skill requirements of employers. The study focuses on examine the
pattern and rate of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, to list out main reasons for
unemployment, to work out the role of employment exchanges. Data collection was carried
out from Secondary data. The study was deeply discussed the unemployment rate and
scenario of Pulwama district. The result shows that education system is yet in a uneven
position. Its focus is concentrate on theory rather than on practical knowledge.

59
✓ Sanjay Kumar (2012) carried out a study on unemployment in India: An over view. This
study is focusing on the over view of Indian unemployment scenario. This paper was
carrying details of types of unemployment, causes of unemployment in India and provides
suggestion to reduce unemployment. There are many types of unemployment are available
like structural unemployment, cyclical unemployment, seasonal unemployment, under
unemployment, open unemployment, voluntary unemployment, in voluntary
unemployment, educated unemployment and frictional unemployment. The study focuses
on causes of unemployment are rapid population growth, limited land, seasonal agriculture,
fragmentation of land, backward method of agriculture, decline of cottage industries,
defective in education system and lack of transport and communication. The study
provided various suggestions to reduce the unemployment like to.

✓ Kiran .R & Subashini .K (2014) carried out a study on impact of economic growth on
employment in India. The study concentrates on economic growth and employment
opportunities after Independence. The India had a second fastest growing economy after
China. The gross domestic product (GDP) and national capital incomes are always growing
but the employment rate is not growing compared to growth of GDP and national capital
incomes. The study was discussed the economic growth statistics and GDP growth from
1950 to 2012. This study shows that India having fastest economic growth compared to
other country, but the employment provisions was lacked in various reasons. The
government will concentrate to rectify those factors immediately and its increase the
employment opportunities in India.

✓ Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market's contribution to the spread of disease is uncertain.

This market was related to numerous initial COVID-19 cases, suggesting that SARS-
CoV-2 was transmitted from human to animal. 1 9 Even though there may have been
previous human-to-human transmission, genomic research has provided evidence that the
virus was introduced into the market from another, as of yet undiscovered area, where it
spread more rapidly. 2 0 Clusters of diseased relatives and healthcare professionals have
established the existence of person-to-person transmission. 2 1 Less than 10% of patients
had market exposure after January 2020 and more than 70% had no market exposure.

60
✓ "Kshyya Rog", "Tapedik" and "Rajayaalhsma" Tuberculosis is a very old chronic
disease that has severely affected various communities and nations since time
immemorial. Tuberculosis in human dates back 5000 years to a city named Atlit Yam
located off the coast of Israel. In this city, the remains of human beings showing
evidence of tuberculosis were found by an archaeologist. Tuberculosis has been
described in various Buddhist and Chinese writings in India and China. Tuberculosis
has been known by various names since the eighteenth century. In India, were the names
used to describe TB. TB was called by various names "phthisis" "tabes" and
"schachepheth" in ancient Greece, Rome and in Hebrew. The white plague was the name
given to TB due to the pale appearance of patients. TB was commonly described as
"consumption" even after the term "Tuberculosis" had been coined by Johann Schonlein

✓ HongKong Investigations on the impact of the SARS outbreak in 2003 showed

significant effects on markets by significant declines in consumption for a variety of
products and services, an increase in operational expenses for firms, and a revaluation
of country risks represented in greater risk policies. Impairments to other continents
were transmitted according to how sensitive or susceptible a region was to the illness.
Despite the extremely low number of illnesses and mortalities, there were significant
global repercussions that went further than the nations that were seriously affected (Lee
and McKibbin, 2003). Three further studies on SARS include those by Hai et al. (2004)
in China, Chou et al. (2004) in Taiwan, and Sui and Wong (2004) in.

✓ 2006, Douglaset al., In assessed the impact of this virus on the GDP of New Zealand.
They disclosed that in a moderate circumstance the economic would contract by 1%–
2% and in a catastrophic crisis by 5%–10%. Using information from 2004, Keogh-
Brown et al., (2008) reviewed the European Union leadership and the UK's outbreak
readiness documents with respect to shutting institutions and immunizations. According
to their predictions, the GDP decreased by 0.5%–1.0%, 3.3%–4.3%, and 6.0%–9.6%,
respectively. By combining illness criteria and government-planned initiatives, Marcus
(2008) made an effort to estimate the possible losses to the.

61
 ✓ Qiu (2016) investigated the previous findings for analysing the conceptualization of
prior epidemics, offering an overview of the detrimental consequences these epidemics
had on the international economy, safety, healthcare, and social welfare. Heesoo et al.
(2019) studied to investigate how the MERS pandemic might affect the travel and
hospitality sectors. During the epidemic from June 2015 to June 2016, data on non-
citizens' arrivals and other resources used were analyzed using periodic integrated
moving average autoregressive models. India is one of the 15 nations included in the
study as having been most negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

✓ Gourinchas et al., (2020), The impact on the economic system is succinctly described
by A rising economic system is a complex network of interconnected groupings,
according to including employees, businesses, wholesalers, consumers, and investment
firms. Every person is a customer, lender, etc. of somebody else. Because of the complex
interconnections and specializations of capacity building, a breakdown in the supply
chain processes and circular processes will have a drastic impact. Baldwin talks about
how COVID-19 has affected economic financial capital flows (2020). First, families
restrict their levels of expenditure and savings since they are unpaid. Reduced savings
lead to less investment, which eventually leads to.

✓ Carlsson-Szlezak et al., (2020), Through the idea of "shock geometry," According to

there are various types of recoveries after disruptions. In decreasing order of severity, we
outline the three primary prospects for improving the economy. The first and most
optimistic case is the one referred to as "V-shaped." In this case, the overall output is
redirected but quickly picks up again.

✓ Senol et al (2020), observed the impacts of the pandemic on the global economy between
January 2020 and April 7 2020.COVID-19 threatened public health and increased risk
perception in fiscal markets as well. More reduction took place in stock market in short
period of time. The outbreak induced reduction in financial market in Jan 2020 but
eventually those losses were promptly compensated in January and February. The
reduction was there in Asian market specifically in China. Despite of rigorous measures,
it was not possible to contain the spread of disease to other countries. Therefore, the global
stock markets were collapsed.

62
✓ Mohammed et al., (2020) .'s emphasis on the dangers of the continuous outbreak and a
sustainability - oriented system's redesign of the current worldwide economic model of
development. The paper claims that simultaneous demand and supply issues caused the fall
of cargo shipping in support of airfreights, whose values treble over night, resulting in
monetary losses, disparities, an amplification of underdevelopment, and economic crashes
globally. Because of the contraction and cessation of production and other commercial
growth, the utilization of power production has significantly decreased. A significant rise
in online shopping as a result of shifted consumer habits and social segregation policies
has been good for large market participants but has had an adverse influence on SMEs that
do not use internet resources. During lockdown period office and other commercial places
were hugely underrated and required to increase ventilation price. Governmental bodies
are admitting the role of national level circular economy policies in several aspects
including decreasing over dependence on the manufacturing nation for necessary goods as
huge deficit induced the inadvertent adoption of circular economy principles.

✓ Martin et al (2020), quantified the social and economic impacts of covid-19 pandemic
on household consumption and poverty in San Francisco Bay Area. A microeconomic
model was designed to evaluate the effects of social distancing measures on household
income, consumption and poverty. According to study, without any social distancing
measures covid-19 pandemic would lead to enormous economic shock. Poverty rate has
been increased from 17.1% to 25.9% in 3 months lockdown period in San Francisco Bay
Area. Per capita savings and consumption were dropped significantly. The longer
recovery period after the pandemic would be further aggravated by a decline in demand,
change in consumption pattern and deceleration in other economic activities. The severity
of the socioeconomic effects was spatially heterogeneous and several populations were
more impacted than the other which may take longer time to recover. Overall that model
quantified the household level effects of pandemic at regional level. Study concluded that
the impact of simultaneous external shocks like natural disasters are of major concern as
people with lower income would have exhausted.

63
✓ Sharma et al. (2020) evaluated the impacts of covid-19 pandemic on the Indian
economy. The covid-19 pandemic has not only resulted consequences related to income
associated with morbidity and mortality but it has also significantly raised the expenses
on healthcare services which has enormous impact on the demography and the economy
of India. The study suggested a set of measurement plans to broaden the comprehension
of the3 linkages between infectious diseases, individual behaviour, public health
policies and economy and provided ways to reform public health policies for sustenance
of the economy. Presently the deleterious effects of a new zoonotic disease vary
substantially between developed and developing country. Therefore, better strategy and
global collaboration in the field of public health and economic development are
prerequisite.

✓ Kanitkar et al. (2020), utilized linear input-output model to evaluate the economic
costs in India due to Covid-19 pandemic. Findings revealed that the depending on the
situation of the lockdown imposed the Indian economy may lose around 10-31 percent
of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
✓ Bora et al (2020) investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the volatility of
stock prices and the performances of BSE and NSE with the help of GARCH model by
evaluating the two phases before and after the first positive case in India. Findings
revealed that the stock market specially the BSE Sensex turned volatile at the time of
pandemic and another stock Index NSE was found with no such substantial impact. The
findings showed that the stock market experienced severe downturn during the
pandemic while return was shown positive in the pre-covid-19 era. Correspondingly
during pre-covid-19 the stock market price were higher but during the pandemic
declining trend was observed up to the first phase of lockdown later it again moved
higher eventually due to ease in lockdown by the Indian.

64
 ✓ Bong et al (2020) noted the dire effects of covid-19 pandemic on low- and middle-
income countries. According to study, as the pandemic progresses and countries are
contrived to take drastic steps such as strict lockdown, restricted travel and social
distancing, will eventually impacts not only the healthcare system but also global
economy and will further lead to exhausted resources available for mankind, it will be
especially challenging for low- and middle-income countries. The recent catastrophic
condition in many developed countries including Italy, Spain, France, US and UK
caused by shortfall of PPE as well as other resources and scenarios for lowerand middle-
income countries are far worse.

✓ Singh et al (2020) studied the impacts of Covid-19 on rural economy of India. The
findings of the study suggested that around 400 million workers in India are at greater
risk to go deeper into poverty line due to ongoing crisis. Chances of community spread
will be there due to low reporting of corona cases and lesser testing facilities. The reverse
migration of workers will generate extra pressure on agricultural and rural economy
which will lead to larger number of populations to fall into wretched poverty. The ongoing
pandemic will have both long as well as short term impacts on rural economy of India.
The government’s economic interventions include largely long-term mitigation strategies
while short term measure like cash incentive, wage subsidy should be provided to save
migrant workers and farmers.
✓ Shekar et al (2020) quantified the economic impacts of covid-19 on informal sector in
India. According to study, informal sector can be divided into two parts. First is informal
employment which includes day-wage basis workers secondly, group involves informal
sector firms which involve commercial activities such as bazaar traders, restaurants,
manufacturers and small factories. The alliance of informal sector into the economic
development aftermath covid-19 lockdown which is presently in varying intensity in
India can be an opportunity to the concept of a survival and approach perceived as
poverty reduction policies with a welfare prejudice. While the informal sector involves
endurance that have no option of corresponding with the.

65
 ✓ Baker et al(2020) studied coronavirus outbreak, which has resulted in a significant
increase in ambiguity, has no direct previous analogs. The rate of progress and the
necessity for information in real time, according to the researcher, necessitate the use of
forward-looking ambiguity measures to assess its repercussions on the market. The
researchers use an actual business cycle model to find that outbreak shock causes an
11% decline in GDP over the past year in the 4th quarter of 2020. Studies suggest that
more than 50% of the shrinkage is caused by uncertainty caused by COVID-19. Surveys
are used by Coibion et al. (2020b) to evaluate US household economic predictions. They
discover that lockdowns—rather than COVID19 infections—are predominantly
responsible for reductions in refinance, inflation forecasts, jobs, consumerism, and
workforce predictions.

✓ Bonadio et al. (2020) In order to simulate a worldwide lockdown as shrinkage in the

labor supply for 64 countries, used a quantitative approach. The average real GDP
decline represents a significant reduction in business activity, according to the authors,
and a significant portion of this contraction is linked to interruptions in global supply
chains. According to Elenev et al. (2020), the COVID-19 effect is modelled as.

✓ Fernandis (2020), According to the COVID-19 virus had a number of

significant negative economic repercussions on the world economy. The COVID-19
pandemic fully interrupted the supply chain network, causing effects to spread to all
levels of supplier chains. Lack of parts forced an automobile company to stop
production. Manufacturing businesses may see an increase in costs as a result of the
supply chain disruption. (ii) The stock market crashed in March 2020, causing the share
values of numerous reputable corporations to tumble by more than 80%. (iii) A major
travel limitation had a considerable influence on a number of international locations.
The epidemic has had a significant impact on a wide range of nations, including those
that rely heavily on tourism, like Greece, Portugal, and Mexico. (iv) Other industries,
like oil, gas, and coal corporations, saw the worst returns as a result of the drop in oil
prices and the decline in world consumption.

66
 ✓ Instead, Salisu and Vo (2020a) used Using a panel regression predicting strategy,
researchers examined the effect of wellbeing reports on predicting stock market returns
and found that it has a significant and negative impact on rate of return, with returns
falling as more details about the physical ailments during the infection become
available. Zhang et al. (2020) employed graph theory, a minimum spanning tree (MST)
model, inferential statistics, and other methods to identify a large increased risk in the
global financial markets. According to Salisu and Vo's (2020) estimation of the
implications of health - related issues to anticipate future stock return for a range of
countries, a strategy using a health-news indicator outpaces the standard long term
average framework, and incorporating economic data and financial forecasts improves
the accuracy of the wellbeing model's predicting strengths. with a significant Covid-
19 presence. Alternatively, Tifani et al. (2020) looked at how Covid-19 affected the
cost of crude oil as well as the prices. They use long and shortterm memory networks
to anticipate the commodity prices and shares. Priyono et al (2020) .'s evaluation of
how smaller companies respond to climate conditions brought on by the COVID-19
disease outbreak by continuing to pursue the business.

✓ Adams et al. (2020) According to the type of work and individual characteristics,
examined the disparity in job/income reductions for the US and the UK. According to
the authors, employees who are unable to do any of their jobs remotely have a higher
risk of being fired. The survey also reveals that those who are younger and those without
a university degree are substantially more likely to see their income decline. According
to Yasenov (2020), immigrants, younger workers, and those with less education prefer
to work in fields where working from home is less common. The same goes for
Alstadsaeter et al. According to (2020), Norway's pandemic shock has a substantial
economic gradient because it disproportionately impacted the economically vulnerable
group, such as parents of small children.

67
✓ Binoy et al. (2021), According to the economic effects of COVID-19 on the
performance of Indian states were assessed. Regression analysis showed that Indian
states that saw a higher dispersion of the COVID-19, harsh early economic
circumstances, and a greater reliance on diverse industries for employment suffered very
significant losses. States with better facilities, a more advanced healthcare system, and
substantially greater employment rates, on the other hand, have suffered considerably
smaller economic losses.

✓ Liang et al in 2021. COVID-19 and the 1918 pandemic were compared by The 1918
pandemic killed a greater proportion of adults between the ages of 25 and 40, according
to the study, while the covid-19 specifically targeted seniors, especially those with co-
morbidities. Only a small number of islands avoided the 1918 epidemic, while some
countries were spared. In contrast to covid-19, the fatality rate for pregnant women was
23–37% in the 1918 pandemic. Nearly 30% of the world's population experienced acute
illness due to the 1918 pandemic, which also claimed the lives of 50 million people
worldwide and 1.3 million people just in the US. As of 16 November 2022, 11 million
cases in total for the Covid-19 case had been documented. There is no solid proof that
the 1918 pandemic, which lasted 25 months, originated in France, Spain, or the US. The
first wave of the 1918 epidemic began on February 15 and lasted until June 1; the fourth
and last wave, which occurred from December 1 to April 30, 1920, was the longest.
Both the 1918 and the Covid-19 pandemics.

✓ Milani et al. (2021) research looked at the socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19
pandemic in a bigger sample of nations. The number of coronavirus cases were
interdependent, and this study took advantage of such interdependence by analysing
social networking sites around the world. The results showed that the majority of
countries around the world experienced an impact from early shocks from Italy on
their assessment of COVID-19 hazards. As a natural reaction, the majority of them
reduced their movement. Communities all throughout the world showed signs of
significant psychological adaptation, or a change in their way of life. United States,
Spanish, and British annoyances all had significant effects.

68
✓ Egger et al. (2021) examined policy responses and considered the negative effects,
particularly on vulnerable groups, in a number of Lower Middle-Income Countries
(LMICs), including Asia, Latin America, and Africa. According to the study, it is
now harder to enter the market, there is less money, and there is more unemployment,
each of which contribute to higher rates of food insecurity. Data showed how
extensive the world economic shock was on a global scale and revealed significant
losses, such as reduced tax revenue and difficulties for developing nations in
accessing debt markets. The study concludes that expanding security net programs—
that is, receiving international assistance in the form of grants or lowinterest loans—
is crucial. In order to generate money for a longer period of time in the event that the
epidemic endures, policymakers in developing countries will need to develop
creative solutions. When a pandemic is severe, adopting innovative and technical
solutions can aid in thriving long-term economic growth. In order to address the
effects of COVID-19, technology infrastructure will need to reach out to the
underprivileged population in distant locations with little touch

✓ Kalenkoski et al., (2021) The "Impacts of COVID-19 on the Self-employed"

Utilizing monthwise panel data from the Census Of Population in the USA, research
explored the initial impacts on the outbreak occupation and durations of unregistered
self-employed individuals. According to the authors, effects started to be noticeable
in March 2020 as social separation on a voluntary basis, peaked in April during the
entire closure, and then gradually decreased in May. They come to the conclusion
that self-employed married mothers were the most severely affected and were even
compelled to leave the workforce in order to take care of their children. Furthermore,

✓ Pereira et al., (2021) added to earlier studies on self-employed members of racial

minority groups by using adaptation theory to explain how minority selfemployed in
Brazil reacted to the COVID-19 outbreak, and in the procedure offered implications
for other advanced markets (Robinson & Kengatharan, 2020). According to the
paper's assertion (Buheji et al., 2020), there is little proof that minorities will suffer
more from the COVID-19 outbreak in the US and other developed countries from
the disease outbreak.

69
✓ Meurer et al. (2021) Research by demonstrates how companies may employ
alternative information sources and assistance, such as online communities, raising
the question of how assistance is developed in these settings. Based on discussion
information from an open innovation ecosystem on Internet during the COVID-19
outbreak, the study analyzes how businesses interact with digital communities from
an affordances perspective. The results highlighted four benefits that discussion
platforms offer to businesspeople in order to create a base for their business in these
spaces. Fairlie and Fossen (2021) looked into the effects of the US federal
government's approach to assist small businesses—the Paycheck Protection Program
(PPP) and the related Economic Injury Disaster Loans—in the study on Paycheck
Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program disbursement to
Minority Communities in the Early Stages of COVID-19 (EIDL). The project's stated
objective is to assist underprivileged communities.

✓ Block et al. (2021) The study, which examined the steps taken by entrepreneurial
firms to retain viability in the COVID-19 Pandemic, examined the factors that
determine bootstrap funding in emergencies. The researchers expand on earlier
studies on bootstrap finance as a crucial facilitator for the expansion of resource-
limited initial-stage companies. The article fills in the knowledge gap about
bootstrapping funding during COVID-19, a time when maintaining cashflow is of
special importance. The factors that determine bootstrap finance are intertwined with
perspectives on "requirement" human capital and "opportunity" costs. The
assessments are based on information from 17,046 German business endeavors.

✓ The Lastauskas (2021) investigation, "Closure, Workforce Adjustments, and

Monetary conflicts" looks at how businesses changed their workforces after a
rigorous shutdown was implemented in March 2020. It makes use of monthly
organizational statistics and substitutes changes in value-added taxation payments
for the financial downturn.

70
✓ Blocks et al. (2020), According to the data, 59precent of smaller companies in the
UK experience poor revenue and have a curtailed shelf lifespan day in the lack of
governmental mitigation actions. This research explains how government support
may help smaller businesses have zero or negative earnings and make it possible to
extend the lifespan of small businesses with negative earnings by up to 194 days.
As per the who study the first emergency relief operation in Germany, similar
effects are seen amongst enterprises devastated by the tragedy. Contrary to Block
et alreport .'s from 2020, Belghitar et alstudy .'s from 2021 shows that the industries
that were most negatively impacted by COVID-19 were not the ones that gained
most from the government's assistance programme. The governmental programme
may not distinguish between businesses that need assistance and those that don't,
which could be the cause.

✓ Braunerhjelm (2021) The paper of on economic stabilisation measures explores

the possibility that focusing on problem. It recommends that economic strategies
need to play a more active part and offers a redesigned model for measures, giving
supply-side initiatives a larger role and placing an emphasis on interventions, it may
be anticipated that micro- and macro-level policy alignment will help offset
recessions more effectively. It is believed that such a reorientation of stabilisation
policies will improve the competitiveness of both businesses and people.

✓ Guerrieri et al (2022) The most recent investigation by Present a theory of

Keynesian supply shocks, which are shocks that lower the potential output in one
area of the economy but eventually drive aggregate activity below capability by
reducing consumption in other areas. This theory was motivated by the
consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic. When the intertemporal substitution
elasticity is relatively high, the elasticity of substitution between domains is
significantly small, and markets remain uncompleted, employment losses.

71
✓ Belitski and other people (2022) Responding to COVID-19 requires the creation of
prosperous entrepreneurial and strong facility business environments, additionally
safeguarding micro business employees, promoting enterprises, and raising budget
deficits. The COVID-19 outbreak offers new commercial opportunities and a previously
unknown challenge for small companies. In an attempt to attract focus on the economic
effects of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, of Small Business Economics Journal examine
the macro scale and fundamental economic effects on entrepreneurship and
microenterprises. Future studies should concentrate on how digitization and financial
systems help small enterprises weather economic downturns.

✓ Chowdhury, Dhar, Experiential assessment and other models are used in and Stacy's
research from 2022 to examine the impact of COVID-19 and shifts in the economy on
the volatility of the US capital markets. Impact analysis has been done in three
perspectives: domestically, internationally, and worldwide. This study demonstrates that
the marketplace reacts unfavorably to the revelation of financial aid but unfavorably to
the announcement of new illnesses and fatality rates. The unfavorable and serious
consequences of reported cases and occurrences on the stock prices indexes demonstrate
how vulnerable the US share market is to COVID-19. EPU influences greatly and
positively US’s stock exchange. The indicators for COVID-19, EPU, and volatility are
cointegrated and move in a single direction. The US stock market is more vulnerable to
COVID-19 than the rest of the globe, according to this study, which also takes into
account whether a prolonged relationship exists between the factors.

✓ Deepa Rajesh and V Krishna Priya in their research study have emphasized the impact
of the over usage of New Media platforms on the mental health of individuals. New Media
platforms are websites where individuals express their throughout and remarks about any
data. In the last decade, social communication has taken the digital leap and altered how
individuals interact and cooperate. The study analyzes the impact of using New Media
platforms on the mental health of students, wherein it is identified that majority of the
respondents have a screen time of more than four hours on New Media platforms.
impacting the students’ mental health with depression and anxiety. (Rajesh & Priya,
2020).

72
✓ John A. Naslund, AmeyaBondre, John Torous, and Kelly A. Aschbrenner in their
research study have explored the different aspects of impact on mental health induced by
New Media usage which covers the benefits, risks and further scope. New Media platforms
are highly prevalent for people going through any mental health problems. Like any regular
individual, some of these also express their battles on New Media or simply share the
glimpses of their healing journey on such platforms and also seek support from others and
scroll through treatment recommendations and find out mental health services, and deal
death the symptoms. New Media platforms can be used as a platform to assist individuals
going through mental health challenges or illnesses. (Naslund, Bondre, Torous, &
Aschbrenner, 2020).

✓ Mesfin A. Bekalu, Rachel McCloud and K. Vishwanath in their research study

attempted to understand the consequences of using New Media platforms that cover well-
being and mental health aspects. The usage of New Media is considered to be a normative
social behaviour with positive or negative effects on health and the outcomes correlated
like dose-effect relations. Based on the study conducted on American adults, it was
deciphered that regular usage brings positive outcomes whereas the developed emotional
connection towards utilizing New Media platforms leads to negative health outcomes,
which is also strongly dependent on socioeconomic and racial/ethnic population sub-
groups. (Bekalu, McCloud, & Viswanath, 2019).

✓ WaseemAkram in the research study has explored the impact on the positive concerning
both the positive and negative effects on society induced by utilization of New Media
platforms. New Media platforms are used as a medium by the individuals where they
produce, share or exchange ideas, images, videos, and other content with the virtual
communities. The forthcoming generations have been constantly around New Media
platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Orkut, Instagram, and MySpace, which will go on to
drastically shape their behavioural pattern and relationships with their parents and peers
and their utilization of technology. The positive side of New Media penetration and
dependence is when it comes to the professional world, where it acts as an invaluable tool
for marketing the skills, learning from other professionals, and discovering business
opportunities.

73
 ✓ Yasmin Hashem in the research study has highlighted the influence of using New Media
platforms on the academic performance of students. With the advancement in technology
with every innovation and invention, the students in the upcoming generation are becoming
highly dependent on it. This makes it extremely significant to review the influence of the
academic performance of the students. Based on the research study, there is no direct
relationship between New Media usage and academic performance and there is no negative
effect following the same lines. (Hashem, 2015).

✓ Jamal Abdul Nasir Ansari and Nawab Ali Khan in their research study have attempted to
understand the role of New Media as a collaborative approach for the conventional classroom.
New Media platforms play a significant role when it comes to transferring resources and
communication with academicians based in eminent educational institutions. The research
study conducted on 360 respondents from a university in Eastern India explores the relationship
between the students’ outlook towards New Media and mobile devices through collaborative
learning along with interaction with classmates, teaching staff, and subsequently the estimated
impact. The study stated that utilization of New Media platforms significantly impacted the
interaction with classmates, teachers, and sharing of the content online. Further on, such
collaborative learning adds up to the students’ engagement which has an impact on the aforesaid
parameters. (Ansari & Khan, 2020).

✓ Ritu Gupta and Brij Mohan Gupta in their research study have explored the different aspects
of New Media research in the country. With a research study that reviewed 783 publications of
Indian origin on New Media research as incorporated in the records of Scopus from the period
from 2004 to 2013, it marked an annual growth rate of 168.31 % and citation impact of 1.27.
India ranked 13th in the global publication output and nearly 37% of the Indian publications
were cited as of March 15 once or several times. The social impact of New Media platforms is
generally high and will have tremendous possibilities in the upcoming years as technology will
lead to the amplification of these New Media platforms. Further on, the research study suggests.

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 CHAPTER-05

DATA ANALYSIS AND

INTERPRETATION

75
 DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION :-

Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and molding data

with the goal of discovering useful information, conclusion and supporting decision-
making. In today’s business, data analysis is playing a role in making decision more
scientifically and helping the business achieve effective operation.

Data interpretation refers to the implementation of processes through which data is received
for the purpose of arriving at an inference. The interpretation of data assigns a meaning to
the information analyzed and determines its signification and implementation.

The importance of data interpretation is evident and this is why it needs to be done properly.
That is to say, the nature and goal of interpretation will vary from business to business,
likely correlating to the type of data being analyzed. For carrying out any study the
importance aspect that researcher need to look after in relation to any research is with
respect to findings of research based upon the objectives of study. On the basis of this
aspect appropriate analysis has been undertaken in order to achieve the conclusion of
research based upon the objective.

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 1) age wise classification of respondent

Age No of respondent Percentage

20-22 9 18%

23-26 20 40%

27-29 5 10%

30 or above 16 32%

Total 50 100%

From the above table 9 belongs to the age group of 20-22 and occupy 18%, 20
belongs to the age group of 23-26 and occupy 40%, 5 belongs to the age group of 27-29
and occupy 10%, and 16 belongs to the age group of 30 or above and occupy 32%.

Agegroup

32% 18%
20-22
10% 40% 23-26
27-29
30orabove

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 2) shows the age wise classification of respondent gender wise classification of
respondent

Gender No of respondent Percentage

Male 25 50%

Female 25 50%

Prefer not to say - -

Total 50 100%

From the table showing above 25 belongs to the classification of male and occupy
50%, and 25 belongs to the classification of female and occupy 50%.

Gender

0%

5% 5%
0 0 mal
efema
le
prefnoto
er t say

78
 3)

From the respondent obtain 51% (25 respondent) are currently employed, 33% (16
respondent) are currently unemployed, 14% (7 respondent) are self employed, and 2%(2
respondent) are students.

79
 4) Table shows whether the respondent have been able to continue learning or working from
home during the pandemic days.

From the above table 54% of them where able to continue working/learning at the time of
pandemic and 46% of them where not able to work/learn. Figure 4.4 shows whether the
respondent have been able to continue learning or working from home during the pandemic days.

80
5) Table 4.5 shows whether the respondent were unemployed at the time of COVID-19
pandemic

From the above table 40% of them where unemployed at the time of pandemic
and 60% of them where employed. Figure 4.5 shows whether the respondent were
unemployed at the time of COVID-19 pandemic

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 6) Table 4.6 shows concern about the employment status in the wake of
COVID19 pandemic scenario.

From the above table it is clear that 21 respondent (42%) stongly agree
that they were concerned about their employment status at the wake of COVID-19, 10
respondent (20%) agrees, 13 respondent (26%) is neutral they neither agree nor disagree,
4 respondent (8%) disagree and 2 respondent that is (4%) srongly disagree.

Figure 4.6 shows concern about the employment status in the

wake of COVID-19 pandemic scenario

82
 7) Table 4.7 shows how respondent agree to the statement "There was an increase on
unemployment due to COVID-19 pandemic

From the above table it is clear that 29 respondent (58%) stongly agree to the statement
"There was an increase on unemployment due to COVID-19 pandemic , 13 respondent
(26%) agrees, 3 respondent (6%) is neutral they neither agree nor disagree, 1 respondent
(2%) disagree and 4 respondent that is (8%) srongly disagree

Figure 4.7 shows how respondent agree to the statement "There was an increase on
unemployment due to COVID-19 pandemic

83
 8) Table 4.8 shows the job crisis in the economy

From the above table it is clear that 29 respondent (58%) stongly agree about
severe job crisis in the economy, 18 respondent (36%) agrees, 2 respondent (4%) is
neutral they neither agree nor disagree, and 1 respondent (2%) disagree.

84
 9)
Table 4.9 shows whether respondent received any advice help assistance
from the employment service

From the above table 8% of them received advice/help/assistance from the employment
service, 76% o Figure 4.9 shows whether respondent received any advice/help/assistance
from the employment service

85
10)Table 4.10 shows whether respondent feels the economy is recovering from slowdown

From the above table 46% of them feels the economy is recovering from slowdown.
, 32% feels it is not recovering and 22% of them feels unsure about it. Figure 4.10 shows
whether respondent feels the economy is recovering from slowdown

86
 11)Table 4.11 shows whether respondent have ever refused a job offer after lockdown.

From the above table 6% of them have refused the job offer, 74% have not refused
any before and 10% of them can’t say about it.
Figure 4.11 shows whether respondent have ever refused a job offer after lockdown

87
CHAPTER – 06
FINDINGS

88
 FINDINGS :-

✓ Surge in Unemployment RatesThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in

unemployment rates in India. Lockdown measures, restrictions on economic activities, and
disruptions in supply chains have resulted in job losses across various sectors.
✓ Disproportionate Impact on Informal Sector The informal sector, which includes daily wage
workers and self-employed individuals, has been particularly vulnerable to the economic
impact of the pandemic. Many informal sector workers have faced job losses, reduced
incomes, and limited access to social protection measures.
✓ Sectoral Variation The impact of COVID-19 on unemployment has varied across sectors.
Industries such as hospitality, tourism, retail, and manufacturing have experienced significant
job losses, while sectors like healthcare, e-commerce, and digital services have witnessed
some resilience or even growth.
✓ Urban-Rural DisparitiesThere have been disparities in the unemployment rates between urban
and rural areas. Urban centers, with a higher concentration of formal sector jobs and service-
oriented industries, have been more severely affected compared to rural areas where
agriculture and allied sectors play a significant role.
✓ Gender Disparities: The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women's
employment. Female workers, particularly those in informal and vulnerable employment,
have experienced higher rates of job losses and reduced working hours compared to their male
counterparts.
✓ Skill Mismatch: Skill mismatch has emerged as a challenge during the pandemic. Some
sectors have faced difficulties in finding workers with the required skills, while individuals
who have lost their jobs may struggle to find employment due to a lack of relevant skills.
✓ Digital Transformation The pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of the
economy, leading to increased demand for digital skills and remote work opportunities.
Individuals with digital skills have had better employment prospects, while others may face
challenges adapting to the changing job market.
✓ Government Interventions The Indian government has implemented various relief programs
and initiatives to support affected individuals and businesses. These include income support
schemes, employment generation programs, and sector-specific measures aimed at mitigating.

89
 CHAPTER – 07
SUGGESTION AND

CONCLUSION

90
 SUGGESTION :-

✓ Strengthen Social Safety NetsEnhance and expand social protection programs to provide a
safety net for individuals and families affected by unemployment. This can include income
support, unemployment benefits, and targeted assistance to vulnerable groups.
✓ Invest in Skill Development Promote skill development programs and training initiatives to
address the skill mismatch in the job market. This can help individuals acquire new skills or
upskill existing ones, making them more employable in sectors with growing demand.
✓ Foster Digital Inclusion: Bridge the digital divide by promoting digital literacy and providing
access to technology and internet connectivity. This can enable individuals to participate in
the digital economy and take advantage of remote work and online job opportunities.
✓ Encourage Sectoral DiversificationExplore opportunities for diversifying the economy and
reducing reliance on sectors highly susceptible to disruptions, such as hospitality and
tourism. Promote the growth of sectors that have shown resilience during the pandemic, such
as healthcare, e-commerce, and digital services.
✓ Promote Entrepreneurship and Small Businesses: Support entrepreneurship and small
businesses through financial assistance, training, and mentorship programs. Encouraging
entrepreneurship can stimulate job creation and provide alternative employment
opportunities.
✓ Enhance Labor Market Information Improve the availability and accessibility of labor
market information to help job seekers make informed decisions. This can include platforms
or portals that provide real-time data on job openings, skills in demand, and career guidance.
✓ Collaborate with Industry and Private Sector Foster partnerships between government,
industry, and the private sector to create employment opportunities, support job creation
initiatives, and facilitate skill development programs that align with industry needs.
✓ Emphasize Mental Health Support: Recognize and address the mental health implications of
unemployment by promoting mental health services, counseling, and support programs.
Prioritize the well-being of individuals affected by job losses and provide resources to cope
with the associated stress and anxiety.
✓ These suggestions aim to address the challenges and promote strategies for mitigating the
impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India. It is important for stakeholders, including
the government, businesses, and civil society, to collaborate and implement comprehensive
measures to support individuals, foster economic recovery, and build a resilient labor market
for the future.

91
 CONCLUSION :-

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant and far-reaching impact on
unemployment in India. The surge in job losses, disruptions in various sectors, and the
disproportionate effect on vulnerable groups have created a complex and challenging
situation. The pandemic has exposed pre-existing vulnerabilities and inequalities in the labor
market, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and long-term strategies.
The study on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India has provided valuable
insights into the magnitude of the problem, the sectoral variations, and the socio-economic
implications for individuals and communities. It has shed light on the challenges faced by the
informal sector, the gender disparities, skill mismatches, and the digital divide.
Government measures and relief programs have played a crucial role in mitigating the
immediate impact and providing support to affected individuals and businesses. However,
long-term recovery efforts, including skill development, sectoral diversification, and digital
inclusion, will be essential for building economic resilience and ensuring sustainable
employment opportunities.
The study has also emphasized the mental health implications of unemployment and the need
for comprehensive support services to address the well-being of affected individuals.
Additionally, it has underscored the importance of collaboration between the government,
industry, and other stakeholders in designing and implementing effective policies and
programs.
While the road to recovery may be challenging, the findings of this study provide a foundation
for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation. By understanding the
characteristics, challenges, and long-term implications of COVID-19-induced
unemployment, stakeholders can work together to foster inclusive growth, promote
entrepreneurship, and build a more resilient labor market.
Overall, the study on the impact of COVID-19 on unemployment in India serves as a crucial
reference point for addressing the immediate and long-term consequences of the pandemic.
By implementing the suggested recommendations and strategies, India can strive towards a
more equitable, sustainable, and resilient labor market, ensuring the well-being and
livelihoods of its citizens.

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 CHAPTER-08
BIBLIOGRAPHY

93
 BIBLIOGRAPHY :-
✓ BOOKS :-

I. IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE MEDIA SYSTEM. COMMUNICATIVE AND

DEMOCRATIC CONSEQUENCES OF NEWS CONSUMPTION DURING THE
OUTBREAK
II. HUSSAIN, I. A STUDY TO EVALUATE THE SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS
AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. PROCEDIA SOC. BEHAVE
III. MADHUSUDHAN, M. USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES BY RESEARCH
SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DELHI: A STUDY. INT. INF. LIBR. REV.

✓ JOURNALS :-

I BASHIR AHMAD SOFI & EFFAT YASMIN (2011) JABIR

II HASAN KHAN & SHEMSHAD (2012) SANJAY KUMAR (2012)
III RITU & NARESHKUMAR (2013) JAGANATH BEHERA (2013)
IV KIRAN .R & SUBASHINI .K (2014) ARNAB ROY (2015)
V ELENA PHILIP & ANTHONIMA K. ROBIN (2015

✓ NEWS PAPERS AND MAGAZINES :-

I. THE ECONOMIC TIMES .

II. FORBES INDIA .
III. THE TIMES OF INDIA .

✓ REPORTS :-

BEST COVID -19 – ANNUAL REPORT .

✓ WEBSITES :-
www.ilo.org.com

www.ijctrt.com .

www.academic.com .

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