Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Shiv Sena (UBT): stagnant job market contradicts 5-trillion economy claims
In India, there is a big argument about jobs.
The government says the country's economy is doing very well.
But a political group called Shiv Sena thinks the government is not telling the whole story.
They looked at numbers from the government's own official survey.
The numbers show that jobs did not grow at all in the past year.
The unemployment rate stayed almost the same, around 5.5 percent.
Many young people who finished college still cannot find work.
In fact, six out of ten young graduates are jobless.
The group says the government promised to create many jobs but did not keep that promise.
They want the government to pay more attention to young people who need jobs.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) claimed in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' that official government figures contradict the administration's boasts of strong economic and industrial growth.
Data from the Ministry of Statistics' Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows the job market was stagnant over the past year, with unemployment at 5.5 per cent versus 5.6 per cent a year earlier.
Rural job opportunities continued to decline, while the share of salaried workers barely moved from 51.2 per cent to 51.4 per cent.
Six out of every ten graduate youths in India are unemployed; an Azim Premji University report says two of three unemployed youths hold a degree and only 12 of 1,000 job-seeking youths get permanent jobs.
The party said the figures contradict Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's claim of creating 1.7 crore jobs annually and validate Rahul Gandhi's concerns about youth unemployment.
- Who
- Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the opposition party led by Uddhav Thackeray, alongside Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- The party alleged that official survey data shows India's job market is stagnant, contradicting the government's claims of strong economic growth and job creation.
- When
- The editorial appeared on a Thursday, following PLFS data released the preceding Monday.
- Where
- India, with Rahul Gandhi having earlier raised the issue at an event in Prayagraj; the party also referenced youth protests at Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- To challenge the government's economic and job-creation claims and highlight a deepening unemployment crisis among educated youth.
Critics (Shiv Sena UBT)
Government and its supporters
Job market health
Critics (Shiv Sena UBT)
Official PLFS data shows the job market is completely stagnant, with rural job opportunities continuing to decline over the past year.
Government and its supporters
Government supporters argue that stable unemployment figures demonstrate the resilience of the economy despite global instability.
Job creation record
Critics (Shiv Sena UBT)
The government has failed to create a single new job in the past year, breaking its promise of two crore jobs per year.
Government and its supporters
Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the government created 1.7 crore new jobs annually over its 12-year tenure.
Five-trillion economy claims
Critics (Shiv Sena UBT)
The party says the data is 'a mirror' to the Modi government's economic policies, showing growth claims are hollow while graduate unemployment soars.
Government and its supporters
The ruling administration frequently boasts about sustaining strong economic and industrial growth despite global instability.
- Unemployment rate (current quarter)
- 5.5%
- Unemployment rate (a year ago)
- 5.6%
- Salaried workers (June)
- 51.4% of employed, up from 51.2%
- Female workers' share
- 32.7%, up from 32%
- Graduate youth population
- 6.30 crore
- Graduate youth unemployment
- Six out of ten graduate youths unemployed
- Youth securing permanent jobs
- 12 out of every 1,000 job-seeking youths
- Government's claimed job creation
- 1.7 crore jobs per year (per Labour Minister)