Mind the Gap: India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Here’s what that means for its youth

CURATED READS FOR GEN Z—AND THEIR Z-CURIOUS COLLEAGUES

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Today, November 15, the world population is projected to hit a whopping eight billion. The time between each successive billion is getting shorter—it took 33 years for the population to go from two billion to three billion, but only 11 years to go from seven billion to eight billion—resulting in an increasingly younger population. (Learn more about the population milestone here.)

Many eyes are on India’s population growth too, parallel to its surging economy. In just a few months, India will overtake China as the most populous country in the world—and India has a median age nearly a decade younger than China’s, at just 28 years old. One in every five Gen Zers in the world lives in India.

The needs, desires, and goals of India’s Gen Z will play a massive role in the next century. “It’s not hyperbole to claim that the future of humanity will be defined by Asian youth,” Time writes.

So what’s on the mind of Indian Gen Zers? Here are four major themes:

Sustainability. Sixty-eight percent of Gen Zers in India reported feeling anxiety about climate change; although India has a low per capita emissions rate, it’s the world’s third-largest emitter overall. Our recent report from senior partners Rajat Gupta and Shirish Sankhe found that India has the chance to create 287 gigatons of carbon space for the planet through decarbonization efforts (and here’s how to do it).

That’s top of mind for young people concerned about the impact of climate change on work and living conditions. Thirty percent cite sustainability as a key concern when considering an employer; Gen Zers surveyed in China, India, and other emerging countries also report being more economically conscious than their counterparts in more developed countries.

The working market. Even highly qualified young people may find themselves struggling to find a suitable job or facing unemployment; India is under pressure to create up to 90 million jobs by 2030, according to an in-depth report by the McKinsey Global Institute.

Burnout is also rising; many Indian employees cite a lack of separation between work and their personal lives, and a McKinsey Health Institute survey found that employees hope to leave their jobs at a 60 percent higher rate than the global average. Gen Zers report wanting their company to “communicate transparently” as well as offer flexibility.

Employees in India also place an especially high premium on learning opportunities, and 84 percent of Indian Gen Zers say they’d stick with their current company if it’s easier to switch jobs internally—11 percentage points higher than the global average.

New opportunities. Tech jobs and start-up roles are the most attractive career for young people in India, and no wonder—the country boasts the third-largest start-up market in the world, including a software-as-a-service market that is expected to grow 25 times to $70 billion by 2030, and economic optimism is high.

The tech market is increasingly moving toward serving internal customers as digital adoption climbs, and the economy is one of the fastest-growing in the world. Under-30 talent helped to catalyze the massive growth over the past few years and will be critical in coming years as well, as young entrepreneurs are increasingly returning to India to try to launch businesses.

Social connection. As with anywhere, Indian Gen Zers live online; 98 percent own a smartphone, and India has over three times more Instagram users alone than the UK has people.

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India has higher rates of social-media use across the board—the average user spends at least 17 hours per week online, and Gen Zers may spend up to eight hours a day scrolling.

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Young people care more about influencers than they care about celebrities, especially ones they can relate to.

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Even though India has the largest film industry on the planet, Gen Zers still prefer to stream movies and TV on their phones.

Where people spend time is where they spend their money too—e-commerce, including rising “buy now, pay later” programs, is thriving for Gen Z.

India’s rapidly growing population, economy, and digital optimization are spurring the country fast toward the future—who knows what could happen by the next billion.

VISUALIZE IT

Investment in renewables is rising in many countries, including India, and seeing big returns.

Chart detailing that a total of $2 billion has been invested globally in sustainability-themed start-ups since 2018

Moving ahead

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Tech for good. As part of our India Ahead series, McKinsey interviewed Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani on the future of technological growth in India and how to use tech for good.

Culture change. Up to 70 percent of transformations fail because of company culture—here’s how Rishad Premji created a high-performing culture at Wipro.

How to build a unicorn. These massively successful businesses may seem mythical, but here are five steps to take to get your own start-up across the billion-dollar mark.

QUOTE US ON IT

“I think start-ups have also reached a tipping point. . . . Entrepreneurs here are young, confident people who are global in mindset and have big ideas.”

–Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani on the future of the technological revolution in India