Which Jobs Are Lost during a Lockdown? Evidence from Vacancy Postings in India

Abstract

We rely on real-time data from one of India’s largest job portals (Shine.com) to study how COVID-19 (and the associated lockdown measures) impacted the Indian labor market. Detailed firm-level vacancy postings reveal a dramatic contraction in hiring: the number of firms posting jobs, and the number of new vacancies they list decline by 60% and 34%, respectively. Firms react to the lockdown by advertising more jobs that can be completed from home and fewer positions in occupations that can be easily automated. Furthermore, certain job-seekers are more affected than others, as employers post fewer entry-level jobs, and require higher levels of experience and education. Finally, we find that female-dominated industries and occupations are most severely impacted, suggesting the pandemic has a higher burden on women.

Keywords: Jobs, Vacancies, Gender, Youth, COVID-19

JEL Classification: E24, J16, J23, J63, M51, O38