Boys in India Have Improved Access to Career Information, Says UNICEF Report

The India chapter of Generation Unlimited — YuWaah — was launched in November 2019. The Second Edition of the Bharat Career Aspiration Report 2024 (BCAR) was released on Thursday.

This report tracks the state of aspiration potential, career awareness, and accessibility of professional career counseling among secondary and higher secondary students from low-income families. The report is published by UNICEF YuWaah and iDreamCareer, a platform offering personalized career guidance to students.

It is based on a survey conducted over a period of five months (August-December 2023) with 4,968 students from classes 9-12 across 25 states participating in the survey. According to the findings, only 9.36 per cent of the total respondents received career guidance services prior to the study and were aware of such services.

The study measured career awareness among students at two levels — basic and advanced. It was found that boys tend to have better access to career-related information as they progress in higher education.

Regarding career choices, the report revealed that out of 4,968 respondents, 2,999 students showed interest in professional careers, while 704 students were interested in vocational careers. It was noted that more female students chose to pursue a professional career after schooling, and a higher percentage of female students also chose vocational careers compared to their male counterparts.

The report also highlighted that family members and school teachers are the top influencers in the career-related decision-making process for both male and female students. It provided insight into the career choices of students, with government and defense services being the top career choice for both genders in professional career clusters.

In 2018, UNICEF launched the global Generation Unlimited (GenU) movement as part of the UN Youth Policy 2030, aiming to meet the urgent needs of young people between the ages of 10-24. The movement aims to expand learning, skill development, employment, and engagement opportunities.

The India chapter of Generation Unlimited — YuWaah — was subsequently launched in November 2019.