Lok Sabha Question No. 3064 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Skilled Labour Market
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3064

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2023

## SKILLED LABOUR MARKET

## 3064.  SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a) whether  the  educational  loss  suffered  during  Covid-19  pandemic  has increased educated unemployability in the country, especially for graduate degree holders, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government devised a draft proposal to mitigate unvoluntary joblessness in the coming few years, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the ways in which this gap between skilled labour market and employer expectations can be closed?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESHWAR TELI)

(a) to  (c):  The  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected  through Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  which  is  conducted  by  the  Ministry  of Statistics  &  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI)  since  2017-18.  The  survey period is July to June of next year. As per the  latest available Annual PLFS Reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for graduate persons of age 15 years and above was 17.2%, 15.5% and 14.9% during 201920,  2020-21  and  2021-22,  respectively,  which  shows  a  declining  trend  in unemployment rate of graduate degree holders.

The  Government  is  implementing  the  National  Career  Service  (NCS) project to provide a variety of employment related services like job search and matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses etc. through a digital platform.

Further,  the  Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  bridge  the  gap between  skilled  labour  and  employment.  The  Government  has  brought  in National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  which  aims  to  integrate  vocational education programmes into mainstream education in all educational institutions in a phased manner. Beginning with vocational exposure at early ages  in  middle  and  secondary  school,  quality  vocational  education  will  be integrated smoothly into higher education.

The  Aatmanirbhar  Bharat  Rojgar  Yojana  (ABRY)  was  launched  with effect  from  1st  October,  2020  to  incentivize  employers  for  creation  of  new employment and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. The  terminal  date  for  registration  of  beneficiaries  was  31.03.2022.  Since inception  of  the  scheme,  till  11.03.2023,  benefits  of  Rs.  8805.0  Crore  have been provided to 60.3 lakhs beneficiaries.

The Government is implementing 'Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)', a program conceived for students in degree courses, primarily non-technical, with a view to introduce employable skills into their learning, promote apprenticeship as integral to education and also amalgamate employment facilitating efforts of the education system so that  clear  pathways  towards  employment  opportunities  are  available  to students during and after their graduation.

To  enhance  the  employability  of  the  youth,  the  Ministry  of  Skill Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  is  implementing  the  'National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)' wherein the Government reimburses 25 percent of the stipend payable to apprentices.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill training through a comprehensive network of skill development centres/ institutes  across  the  country  under  various  schemes  viz.  Pradhan  Mantri Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan  Sansthan  (JSS)  Scheme, National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsman  Training Scheme  (CTS)  through  Industrial  Training  Institutes  (ITIs).  Through  these centres,  training  to  candidates  is  imparted  in  employable  skills,  as  per requirements of industry and economy.

The Government is implementing a programme for skilling of rural youth for entrepreneurship development through Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs).

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Housing  for All  etc.  are  also  oriented  towards  generating  employment opportunities. All  these  initiatives  are  expected  to  collectively  generate employment in the medium to long term through multiplier-effects.

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