‘India facing 45-yr high unemployment, Bengal cutting joblessness’: Derek O’Brien

New Delhi, March 10: ‎Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien on Tuesday raised concerns over unemployment in India, claiming that the country is facing its highest unemployment levels in 45 years while asserting that West Bengal has made significant progress in reducing joblessness.
‎Speaking in the latest episode of his video series Morning Walk, filmed in New Delhi during the ongoing Parliament session, the senior Trinamool Congress leader highlighted employment trends in the country and contrasted them with what he described as improvements in West Bengal.
‎“In India today, unemployment is at its highest level in 45 years,” O’Brien said in the video, adding that the issue of job creation remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the country.
‎The TMC leader claimed that West Bengal has made substantial strides in addressing unemployment under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. According to him, the state has reduced unemployment by about 40 per cent in recent years.
‎“Bengal is among the top five states in the country when it comes to reducing unemployment,” O’Brien said, adding that the state government has generated over two crore job opportunities through various initiatives and schemes.
‎O’Brien’s remarks come at a time when employment generation and youth unemployment continue to be key political and economic issues in India. Studies and parliamentary discussions have frequently highlighted concerns about job availability, particularly for young and educated workers. Educated youth account for a significant share of the unemployed workforce, and vacancies in both public and private sectors remain a major concern.
‎In recent years, political leaders across party lines have debated official employment data and job creation claims, with opposition parties often questioning the government’s figures and calling for greater transparency and policy interventions to address the issue.
‎O’Brien said the purpose of his “Morning Walk” video series is to present what he described as “facts and numbers” on key national issues while Parliament is in session.