To be able to solve the job riddle, govt needs to improve payroll data

Govt should make EPFO data available to researchers to find the truth about employment numbers

Rapid economic growth and widespread job creation were the two central promises of the National Democratic Alliance government as it assumed power in 2014. However, ever since growth started decelerating from the start of the 2016-17 fiscal year, there have been widespread concerns about the lack of jobs in the economy. In the absence of credible data, this narrative grew, especially in the wake of demonetisation in November 2016 and the rushed introduction of the goods and services tax in July 2017.

But a new study conducted by Pulak Ghosh, professor, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and Soumya Kanti Ghosh,