Lok Sabha Question No. 225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-18
Subject: Increasing Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  NOVEMBER, 2019

## INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

## 225.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) the number of unemployed youths in the country at present;
- (b) whether unemployment rate is on rise in the country during recent years;
- (c) if so, the reasons for increasing unemployment; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken to create more jobs in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (c):  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 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*                 | Unemployment Rate   |
|-------------------------|---------------------|
| 2017-18 (PLFS)          | 6.0%                |
| 2015-16 (Labour Bureau) | 3.7%                |
| 2013-14 (Labour Bureau) | 3.4%                |

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

(d): 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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