Post-2015 Development Agenda: Employment and Growth with Special Reference to India

The Post-2015 Development Agenda provides an opportunity to focus on employment. Productive employment is also crucial for the success of the MDGs. This article first discusses the impact of the MDG approach in India. It then examines the state of employment and growth in India, before considering how Indian policymakers are looking at employment and growth in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Analysis of employment and growth in India shows that the elasticity of employment with respect to GDP has been declining since the early 1980s. Most new employment is generated in the form of informal work in both the organised and unorganised sectors. The Twelfth Five-Year Plan objectives match global thinking on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. A fresh perspective regarding employment and growth in India relates to shifting focus from quantity to quality and skill development. This is also important for taking advantage of the demographic dividend in India.