It is common knowledge at this point that India has a high unemployment rate and a paucity of jobs for its youth. Further, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS),2019-20, the situation is even worse in urban areas and amongst women, where the labour force participation rate is only about 25%. Moreover, due to the pandemic, several people lost jobs and the availability of formal sector jobs is limited. Women still have to do a disproportionate amount of housework, even when they are employed, which forces them to choose careers with lower pay.

The purpose of this research is to understand the job search behaviour of the youth, the presence of gender differences in job search behaviour and the barriers that prevent women from participating in the labour market and the factors that influence their decision to enter the workforce. These are critical issues that must be explored in order to recommend new policy measures and evaluate current initiatives in India aimed at realizing the full economic potential of India’s youth, particularly in the context of digital job platforms. The study will aim to address whether providing information on job opportunities available through the app and online-based job search portals can help to increase the employment opportunities of the youth, particularly women in urban India.