labour market data

While India's workforce participation has increased, a deeper look reveals significant disparities. More people are working, but many are in self-employment or informal roles with uncertain incomes. Gender and location heavily influence access to stable, well-paying jobs, highlighting a critical imbalance in job quality and opportunity.

Major Indian cities will soon get dedicated databases on labor markets and informal businesses. This move aims to boost evidence-based policymaking amidst rapid urbanization by filling crucial data gaps at the city level. The initiative will cover 47 million-plus cities, with Maharashtra leading in the number of such urban centers.

State’s LFPR Stands At 45.4% Against The National Average Of 42.2%

Can every worker afford the economy that they keep running?

India’s macro exposure to the Middle East continues to be transmitted primarily through energy and critical input prices, reflecting structurally high dependence on imported crude and natural gas.

nthropic CEO Dario Amodei keeps predicting that AI will trigger mass unemployment on a global scale. But with an Anthropic IPO reportedly targeting a $900 billion valuation, his warnings may be doing double duty—as both public service and investor pitch. Anthropic's own labor research shows the reality is far more gradual. And voices from Sam Altman to Meta's Yann LeCun are increasingly pushing back.

A 2026 analysis by Resume Now, based on Lightcast data, reveals a widening gap between rapid AI adoption and workforce readiness across key industries. Frontline sectors remain most exposed, with training lagging behind deployment. The report warns that without structural investment in upskilling, AI may not eliminate jobs—but could leave workers increasingly sidelined and disempowered.

Indian workers are putting in fewer hours weekly compared to pre-pandemic levels, with self-employed individuals seeing the steepest decline. This trend, alongside modest real earnings growth, suggests lower aggregate demand and a recovery driven by a select few. Women's increased labor force participation, particularly in rural agriculture, indicates distress-led employment.

Canada is tightening its international student program with new rules. These include higher financial requirements and possible country-based caps. Indian students, the largest group, may be significantly affected. The changes aim to address system strain and improve oversight. Stricter monitoring and institutional accountability are also proposed. These reforms signal a move towards a more selective system for international education.

Mumbai is seeing its biggest infrastructure push yet with new expressways, a 16-line metro network, a second international airport, sea links and tunnels. Will it reshape how the city functions? Will it change where its people live and work? Will it improve the quality of life in India’s buzziest metropolis?

Today is Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendars, believed to bring lasting prosperity and good fortune. Buying gold on this day is considered auspicious. Experts believe that returns on gold over the last few years reinforce its role as a long-term wealth preserver.

The US Department of Education has proposed a new accountability framework to restrict federal funding for college programmes with low graduate earnings. Backed by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, the rule would disqualify programmes where graduates earn less than high school leavers or, for postgraduate courses, less than bachelor’s degree holders. Developed with consensus from the AHEAD Committee, the proposal aims to address rising student debt and standardise oversight. Public comments are invited before final revisions.