Gujarat has witnessed a high industrial growth since Independence. With a GDP of over 12.5 per cent and the manufacturing sector growing at over 12 per cent, Gujarat is one of the fastest growing states in the country. But has this translated into more jobs for the people?

According to the Indian Express -CNN- IBN- Divya Bhaskar-CSDS Survey, about 28 per cent of the population feels employment opportunities have increased in the last five years while 22 per cent feel they have decreased. About 53 per cent of college educated youth feel employment opportunities have increased in the last five years as against 32 per cent of the uneducated. The upper castes are the most positive about employment opportunities followed by the Other Backward Classes. Dalits are the most dissatisfied, followed by tribal communities.

Does the larger state story about employment opportunities reflect on peoples’ perception of their individual economic condition? People who feel that employment opportunities have decreased are most likely to feel that the economic condition of their family in the last five years has remained the same.

Employment has been an issue over which a number of elections have been fought. So how will this issue play out in the Gujarat elections? About 67 per cent of people who are upbeat over employment opportunities are likely to vote for the BJP. People who feel employment opportunities have remained the same or decreased, are likely to vote for the Congress. About 29 per cent of those who feel employment opportunities have decreased are likely to vote for the BJP.

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