Labour Market Changes in Karnataka after COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented shock to labour markets worldwide, severely affecting employment, income security, and labour mobility.In India, the impact varied across states depending on economic structure, sectoral composition, and policy response.Karnataka, one of India's fastest-growing states with a diversified economy, experienced significant labour market disruptions during the pandemic, followed by a gradual and uneven recovery.This paper examines the changes in Karnataka's labour market in the post-COVID period by analysing employment trends, unemployment rates, sectoral shifts, informalformal workforce dynamics, migration patterns, and government policy interventions.Using secondary data from labour surveys, government reports, and existing literature, the study highlights both resilience and persistent challenges within the state's labour market.The findings suggest that while Karnataka has shown strong recovery in employment and labour force participation, issues such as high informality, skill mismatch, wage insecurity, and regional disparities continue to affect sustainable labour market growth.