Jobs are the Biggest Concern for India's First-Time Voters

For this round of the Indian Lok Sabha general elections, an astonishing number of first-time voters will be going to the polls. And their biggest concern has to do with finding a job in the Indian economy.

Between 80 and 100 million 18- to 21-year-olds will be casting a vote for their first time this year. First-time voters are therefore making up around 10 percent of the entire electorate, giving them a big say in the elections. Their concerns with the job market might be justified: In 2018, only 43 percent of Indians living in urban areas said it was a good time to find a job, down from 58 percent in the previous year, according to Gallup.

With jobs being the most important factor for first-time voters, women’s safety, better education and an end to corruption are also high on the list of young peoples’ demands that were compiled by YouGov and Firstpost.