A moving video recently posted by UPSC Lifepedia and directed by Shayl Dayal captures a deeply personal and painful truth many in India may silently recognise. In the video, a man, bespectacled with a moustache, reveals how losing his job changed the mood at home. He speaks about how warmth and affection gave way to coldness, how people who once greeted him with smiles now avoid eye contact, and how subtle shifts in behaviour make him feel like a stranger in his own home.

Pain is clearly visible in his eyes.
The harsh reality of being jobless in your own house: when your own family starts treating you differently. pic.twitter.com/AS9A32iIeD

— UPSC Lifepedia (@UPSCLifepedia) November 26, 2025

His pain is not simply about losing a source of income; it’s about losing dignity and respect. He describes the sense of shame and isolation that comes with being unemployed – a silent burden that many find hard to articulate.

The Bigger Picture: Job Market Trends in India

To place his story in a broader national framework, we must look at recent labour-market data. According to the latest available data (August 2025) from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)’s Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), India’s overall unemployment rate for people aged 15 and above stood at about 5.1%.

However, the comfort of a “single number” can be misleading. Within that, urban unemployment remains considerably higher than rural. The urban rate was about 6.7% in August 2025, compared with a rural rate of around 4.3%.

Youth unemployment among those aged 15–29 continues to be a major issue. Among this segment, joblessness remains several times higher than the national average.

These numbers only hint at a deeper reality. According to a recent study titled Unemployment and Social Alienation in India: A Statistical-Sociological Exploration, joblessness in India is more than a loss of income. The authors point out that unemployment often leads to feelings of “powerlessness, normlessness, isolation, and self-estrangement.”

Thus, what might appear on paper as a modest percentage becomes a widespread challenge for individuals, especially in urban areas or among youth who may face repeated job losses, underemployment or uncertainty.

The Silent Weight of Unemployment

Losing a job does more than cut off a pay-cheque. It can erode a person’s sense of self worth. Many in our society still view joblessness as a personal failure, rather than a structural or economic issue.

For the man in the video, the shift in how his family treated him hit harder than the job loss. The affection and warmth he enjoyed earlier, perhaps taken for granted, vanished when his earning stopped. The emotional cost of such distancing is often invisible yet deeply real. Feelings of guilt, shame, and helplessness can settle in, sometimes giving way to anxiety, depression, or a sense of hopelessness.

When a family depends on a person’s income, job loss can also upset the delicate balance of roles and responsibilities. The provider becomes uncertain; previously shared decisions may now gravitate towards others; conversations about the future grow tense or disappear altogether. The person feels excluded from the core of family life, not because of conflict, but because of quiet exclusion.

Why Society Often Counts Respect in Rupees

The man’s experience reflects a painful reality: in many Indian households and communities, respect is tightly linked to one’s ability to provide financially. The moment the pay cheques stop, that respect can erode.

Cultural expectations, especially on men to be breadwinners, add pressure. The shame and judgment often attached to unemployment, even temporary, can cause considerable emotional distress. As per sociology research, unemployed individuals frequently face social alienation, which worsens their mental well-being and reduces chances of re-employment.

That said, some experts argue that stigma can sometimes drive people to try harder: job seekers aware of societal expectations may intensify their efforts to find work and prove themselves again.

How We Can Heal After Job Loss

Recovering from job loss requires more than just finding another job. It calls for rebuilding self-worth, repairing relationships, and redefining one’s identity beyond the role of “provider”.

Families and society at large need to recognise that “being unemployed for now” does not make a person worthless. Open communication, empathy, and support can help ease the transition. Instead of cold avoidance, offering understanding and solidarity can make a crucial difference.

At a societal level, emphasis on skill development, mental-health awareness, and removing stigma around joblessness can help. When people are seen not just as income-sources but as individuals with dignity, the pain of job loss need not be accompanied by loneliness.

For the man in the video and many like him, what may matter most is not another job alone but restoring warmth, respect and faith.

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