Job creation in Ahmedabad is below par

The largest city in Gujarat has many firsts to its credit but despite being in the news for the right reasons, it always finds itself in the back seat. In other words, other metros across India have surged ahead of Ahmedabad in investments and job creation.

The city has to play second fiddle to all other metros and this has diminished its standing and credibility at the national stage. Cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Delhi have been receiving huge investment proposals across various sectors.

But Ahmedabad in comparison has received the least amount of proposals on offer. In spite of fact that the Gujarat government is proactive in promoting tier-II cities by organizing the vibrant summits once in two years, the city and its surroundings have received very few proposals contrary to the actual MOU signed at the previous summits.

Ahmedabad is a large city but the total investments in various sectors and the job created are minuscule compared to other metros. Total jobs created in Ahmedabad and other cities of Gujarat are hardly a fraction of what actually has been created elsewhere in India.

Ahmedabad has a huge potential in the services sector where outsiders have been employed. This sector is unskilled and unorganized and outsiders from Bihar, UP, and Odisha are preferred over locals.

The local population is mainly employed in the skilled and semi-skilled sector. Sectors like Finance, Accounts, and Sales are dominated by locals compared to the service sector.

Despite tall claims by the Gujarat government and the BJP leadership, Gujarat is lagging behind key states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and southern states in employment generation and job creation.

The number of unemployed youth in Gujarat has reached the staggering figure of 50 lakhs this financial year. There is number of factors contributing towards it.

The first one is the lack of industry exposure

The Second is the shortage of educated youth

The third is the lack of English language skills

The fourth point is the lack of practical skills to do a particular task

The above points are crucial for fewer job creations in Gujarat in general and Ahmedabad in particular. Gujarat’s world heritage city and one of the fastest-growing cities in India was never the destination of choice for foreign investors.

Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai along with Delhi and NCR region comprise nearly 80% of the jobs created. The figures for Ahmedabad pales in comparison. This is mainly attributed to government apathy and corrupt practices at the highest level.

Ahmedabad aspires to be the leading megacity in India in every sphere and it has the wherewithal to achieve its goal of equaling other metros. But with the prevailing Covid19 situation and slowing down of the economy, investments have slowed down not only in Ahmedabad but also in other metros to be precise.

The future of Ahmedabad lies in the hands of its people. All stakeholders have to promulgate an ordinance to bring a sea change to the functioning of the government machinery. There needs to be a strong commitment from all the stakeholders as far as job creation is concerned for the welfare of the youth. It is never too late to take visible action and create an atmosphere of hope and possibility for the masses.