Lok Sabha Question No. 4743 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-22
Subject: Periodic Labour Force Survey
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhartruhari Mahtab

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4743 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  JULY, 2019

## PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY

## 4743.   SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) whether the unemployment rate has increased in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  unemployment  rate  is  higher  in  urban  areas  as compared to the rural areas of the country;
- (d) whether  it  has  been  stated  in  the  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  that  the joblessness is at its highest level in 45 years across the country; and
- (e) if  so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) & (b): 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 Employment-Unemployment Survey conducted  by  Labour  Bureau,  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment,  the  estimated unemployment rate on usual status (principal status+subsidiary status) basis for the persons of age 15 years and above to the extent available is given below:

| Survey* Year            | Unemployment Rate   |
|-------------------------|---------------------|
| 2017-18(PLFS)           | 6.0%                |
| Survey by Labour Bureau |                     |
| 2015-16                 | 3.7%                |
| 2013-14                 | 3.4%                |

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

(c) to (e):  As  per the results of  Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  and quinquennial employment  and  unemployment  surveys  conducted  by  National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the estimated unemployment rate on usual status (principal status + subsidiary status) basis for persons of all ages in both rural and urban areas in the country since 1972 is given below:

| Unemployment Rates (in %)   | Unemployment Rates (in %)   | Unemployment Rates (in %)   | Unemployment Rates (in %)   | Unemployment Rates (in %)   |
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| Survey year                 | Rural                       | Rural                       | Urban                       | Urban                       |
|                             | Male                        | Female                      | Male                        | female                      |
| 2017-18* (PLFS)             | 5.8                         | 3.8                         | 7.1                         | 10.8                        |
| 2011-12 (NSS 68 th round)   | 1.7                         | 1.7                         | 3.0                         | 5.2                         |
| 2009-10 (NSS 66 th round)   | 1.6                         | 1.6                         | 2.8                         | 5.7                         |
| 2004-05 (NSS 61 st round)   | 1.6                         | 1.8                         | 3.8                         | 6.9                         |
| 1999-00 (NSS 55 th round)   | 1.7                         | 1.0                         | 4.5                         | 5.7                         |
| 1993-94 (NSS 50 th round)   | 1.4                         | 0.9                         | 4.1                         | 6.1                         |
| 1987-88 (NSS 43 rd round)   | 1.8                         | 2.4                         | 5.2                         | 6.2                         |
| 1983 (NSS 38 th round)      | 1.4                         | 0.7                         | 5.1                         | 4.9                         |
| 1977-78 (NSS 32 nd round)   | 1.3                         | 2.0                         | 5.4                         | 12.4                        |
| 1972-73 (NSS 27 th round)   | 1.2                         | 0.5                         | 4.8                         | 6.0                         |

(Note: *For comparability, the results of the PLFS with earlier rounds of NSS surveys need  to  be  understood  in  the  context  with  which  the  survey  methodology  and sample selection has been designed)

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,  fast-tracking  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  Deendayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) has been launched by the Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  for  incentivising  employers  for  promoting employment generation. Under this scheme, Government is paying entire employer's contribution  (12%  or  as  admissible)  towards  EPF  and  EPS  for  all  eligible  new employees  for  all  sectors  for  3  years.  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.

Start-up India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to build a strong ecosystem that is conducive for the growth of start-up businesses, to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.

Besides  these  initiatives,  flagship  programmes  of  the  Government  such  as Make  in  India,  Digital  India,  Swachh  Bharat  Mission,  Smart  City  Mission,  Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Housing for All, Infrastructure development  and  Industrial  corridors  have  the  potential  to  generate  productive employment  opportunities.  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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