Lok Sabha Question No. 2154 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-02
Subject: Job Losses/Unemployment
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari, Kunhalikutty P.K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2154

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02 ND  DECEMBER, 2019

## JOB LOSSES/UNEMPLOYMENT

2154.  SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI: SHRI P.K. KUNHALIKUTTY:

## Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that 90 lakh job losses have been registered in the last six years and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  rate  of  unemployment  has  been  the highest in the last three years therein and if so, the action taken by the Government to achieve the target to employ one crore people per year;
- (c) the  details  of  the  unemployment  rate  in  rural  and  urban  areas  in  the country as on 01.01.2014 and as on 31.10.2019;
- (d) the reasons for the increase of unemployment rate and the remedies/steps taken by the Government;
- (e) whether the report of the National Sample Survey Organisation that the country's unemployment rose to a 45 year high of 6.1% in 2018 is correct; and
- (f) if so, whether the Government has taken any action to reduce the same in the coming years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a  to  f):  As  per  the  results  of  annual  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS) conducted  by  National  Statistical  Office  (NSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  and Programme Implementation during 2017-18 and annual employmentunemployment  surveys  conducted  by  Labour  Bureau,  Ministry  of  Labour  and Employment,  the  estimated  unemployment  rate  in  rural  and  urban  areas  on usual status (principal status + subsidiary status) basis for the persons of age 15 years and above to the extent available is given below:

| Unemployment Rate   | Unemployment Rate       | Unemployment Rate       | Unemployment Rate   |
|---------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| Region              | Survey by Labour Bureau | Survey by Labour Bureau | Survey by NSO(PLFS) |
|                     | 2013-14                 | 2015-16                 | 2017-18             |
| Rural               | 2.9%                    | 3.4%                    | 5.3%                |
| Urban               | 4.9%                    | 4.4%                    | 7.7%                |

(Note:  Survey  methodology  and  sample  selection  are  different  in  PLFS  and Labour Bureau survey)

Moreover, as per the result of the PLFS, the estimated unemployment rate on  usual  status  (principal  status+subsidiary  status)  basis  for  persons  of  all ages in the country was 6.1%.

Employment  generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is  the priority of the Government. Government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country like encouraging private sector of economy, fasttracking  various  projects  involving  substantial  investment  and  increasing public expenditure on schemes such as Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Deendyal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has been initiated by Government inter  alia  for  facilitating  self-employment.  Under  PMMY  collateral  free  loans upto  Rs.  10  lakh,  are  extended  to  micro/small  business  enterprises  and  to individuals to enable them to setup or expand their business activities.

Government has implemented the National Career Service (NCS) Project which comprises a digital portal that provides a nation-wide online platform for the  job  seekers  and  employers  for  job-matching  in  a  dynamic,  efficient  and responsive manner and has a repository of career content to job seekers.

Besides, Ministries/ Departments/ States run skill development schemes across various sectors to improve the employability of youth and also facilitate placements. Schemes such as the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) wherein Government reimburses 25 percent of the stipend payable to apprentices also enhances employability of the youth to access employment.

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