Lok Sabha Question No. 5231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Unemployment among the Well-educated
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: T.R.V.S. Ramesh

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5231

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 RD  APRIL, 2023

## UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG THE WELL-EDUCATED

## 5231.  SHRI T.R.V.S. RAMESH:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that graduates between 20 to 29 years of age face a high percentage of unemployment and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  Government  is  aware  that  certain  studies  have  shown  that unemployment among the well-educated is thrice the national average and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies to understand the reasons for this;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, including the measures taken in this regard; and
- (e) whether the Government is aware that studies have shown that such high  levels  of  unemployment  can  cause  violent  social  unrests  and  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  conducted  by  National  Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since  2017-18.  As  per the  latest  annual  PLFS  report,  the  estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for age   15-29 years was 15.0%, 12.9% and 12.4% during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively which shows that the unemployment rate among the age group 15-29 years has declining trend.

Further,  as  per  the  latest  PLFS  report,  the  estimated  Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for age 15 years and above of different education level is as under:

|                            | Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   |         |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|---------|
| General Education Level    | 2019-20                    | 2020-21                    | 2021-22 |
| Not literate               | 0.6                        | 0.4                        | 0.4     |
| Literate & upto primary    | 1.4                        | 1.4                        | 1.0     |
| Middle                     | 3.4                        | 2.5                        | 2.6     |
| Secondary                  | 4.1                        | 3.8                        | 3.4     |
| Higher secondary           | 7.9                        | 6.6                        | 6.3     |
| Diploma/Certificate course | 14.2                       | 14.2                       | 13.0    |
| Graduate                   | 17.2                       | 15.5                       | 14.9    |
| Post graduate & above      | 12.9                       | 12.5                       | 11.4    |
| Secondary & above          | 10.1                       | 9.1                        | 8.6     |
| All India                  | 4.8                        | 4.2                        | 4.1     |

Source :MoSPI

Some studies  indicates  that  there  may  be  a  mismatch  between  the skills  required  for  jobs  available  and  the  skills  of  the  jobseekers  which result in higher unemployment for highly educated people in search of high quality jobs.

Employment  generation  coupled  with  improving  employability  is  the priority of the Government. Accordingly, the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment in the country.

Investments  in  Infrastructure  and  productive  capacity  have  a  large multiplier  impact  on  growth  and  employment.  The  budget  of  2023-24 proposed to increase capital investment outlay steeply for the third year in a row by 33 per cent to Rs 10 lakh crore, which would be 3.3 per cent of GDP. This  substantial  increase  in  recent  years  is  central  to  the  government's efforts to enhance growth potential and job creation.

The Government of India has announced Aatmanirbhar Bharat package to provide stimulus to business and to mitigate the adverse impact of Covid 19. Under this package, the Government has provided fiscal stimulus of more than Rupees Twenty Seven lakh crore. This package comprises of various long term schemes/ programmes/ policies for making the country self-reliant and to create employment opportunities.

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  28.02.2023,  benefits  have been provided to 60.31 lakhs beneficiaries under the scheme.

The  Government  is  implementing  Prime  Minister  Street  Vendor's AtmaNirbharNidhi (PM SVANidhi Scheme) since June 01, 2020 to facilitate collateral  free  working  capital  loan  to  street  vendors  to  restart  their businesses, which were adversely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

As on 13.03.2023, 42.21 lakh loans have been disbursed under the scheme.

The  Government  of  India  is  encouraging  various  projects  involving substantial  investment  and  public  expenditure  on  schemes  like  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 Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) etc. for employment generation.

Further, the Ministry of Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship (MSDE)  is  implementing  the  National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme (NAPS) and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to enhance the employability of youth.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) was launched by the Government  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. As on 24.02.2023, 39.65 crore loan accounts sanctioned under the scheme.

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes is being implemented by the Government with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore, for a period of 5 years starting from 2021-22 which have potential for creating 60 lakh new jobs.

PM GatiShakti is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development. The approach is driven by seven engines, namely, Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways and Logistics Infrastructure. This approach is powered by Clean Energy and Sabka Prayas leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

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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