SDG 8

Decent Work and Economic Growth Building Prosperity with Purpose

Work is not just about earning a living. It is about creating meaning, dignity, and a future where growth uplifts everyone — not just a few.

Growth Means Little Without Dignity

• Over 2 billion workers globally are in informal or vulnerable jobs.

• In India, more than 80% of employment is informal — lacking security and benefits.

• The challenge: grow fast and grow fair.

• Decent work = safe, fair, productive, and meaningful employment.

💬 “A paycheck sustains a person. A purpose sustains a generation.”

India Rising — But Rising for Whom?

• India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

• Booming startup ecosystem, digital jobs, green industries.

• Challenges: unemployment among youth, automation, and job quality gaps.

• Opportunities: skilling 500 million youth, MSME growth, gig economy reforms, impact-driven enterprises.

💬“India’s real GDP will be measured not only in dollars, but in dignity.”

From Earning to Empowering

• Awakening (14–18 years): Learn financial literacy, explore career pathways, participate in school entrepreneurship clubs.

• Becoming (19–24 years): Gain market-ready skills, join internships, explore startups or social enterprises.

💬 “True growth is when your work lifts not just you, but others too.”

• Impacting (25–40 years): Build sustainable businesses, influence workplace policies, mentor young talent, and create jobs that matter.

Stories of Work with Meaning

• 🧩 Journey 1: Meena, 17 — “Awakening Through Skill”
  📍 Odisha | High School Student

  • Cause: Poverty in her community

  • Action: Enrolled in a vocational training program for tailoring

  • Next Step: Selling her products at local markets
    💬 “I thought work was survival. Now I see it as a path to pride.”

• 🧩 Journey 2: Arjun, 24 — “Becoming an Entrepreneur”
  📍 Bangalore | B. Com Student

  • Cause: Frustrated by youth unemployment

  • Action: Started a campus-based delivery service for local shops

  • Next Step: Grew it into a small business employing 12 young people
    💬 “I didn’t just create a job for myself. I created a ripple of jobs.”

• 🧩 Journey 3: Ragini, 33 — “Impacting at Scale”
  📍 Mumbai | HR Professional

  • Cause: Gender pay gap in corporate India

  • Action: Designed inclusive hiring programs in her company

  • Impact: 200+ women recruited into mid-level leadership roles
    💬 “Decent work is about fairness. Growth without equality isn’t growth.”

Work That Builds the Future

• People: Decent jobs give dignity, safety, and opportunities to thrive.

• Planet: Green jobs transition industries towards sustainability.

• Prosperity: Inclusive growth builds resilient economies.

• Peace: Fair employment reduces inequality and unrest.

• Partnership: Governments, private sector, and communities must co-create the future of work.

💬 “Growth is not GDP charts. It is human lives fulfilled.”

Beyond Careers —Everyday Choices That Shape Work

• Support ethical businesses and local entrepreneurs, vocal for local.

• Choose internships and projects that value impact as much as income.

• Learn digital and green skills that shape tomorrow’s economy.

• Mentor someone younger in their career journey.

💬 “Every career choice is a vote for the future you believe in.”

Building an Economy That Works for All

• Governments: Strengthen labor protections, invest in skilling, incentivize MSMEs.

• Private Sector: Pay fair wages, create inclusive workplaces, invest in sustainability and human capital.

• Both Together: Build an economy that grows in numbers and in justice.

💬 “The next great economic revolution will not be about speed. It will be about fairness.”

Growth for Growth’s Sake Is Not Enough. Growth with Purpose Is the Future.

The work you do — and the way you do it — will define India’s story. Let’s make it one of dignity and opportunity for all. What if your career wasn’t just about earning, but about uplifting millions?