Lok Sabha Question No. 1326 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-25
Subject: Current Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1326

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  JULY, 2022

## CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

## 1326. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

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

- (a) the  current  unemployment rate in  the country along with the rural and  urban  unemployment  figures  separately  during  the  last  five years/ month-wise;
- (b) the unemployment figures/estimates put out by private organisations like  Centre  for  Monitoring  Indian  Economy  are  considered  more credible than Government figures and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that according to global standards 60 per cent of the  population  of  India  should  be  employed  which  means  that  84 crore people should be employed as opposed to 40.6 crores who are currently employed and the strategy of the Government to reach this target of giving employment to 44 crore more people; and
- (d) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  problem  of  unemployment  is  starker among women than compared to men with more women both being unemployed as well as looking for work and not getting it?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (d): The official data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period  is  July  to  June  of  next  year.  The  PLFS  report  doesn't  releases month-wise  unemployment  figures.  As  per  the  available  Annual  PLFS Reports, the year-wise estimated Unemployment Rate(UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during 2017-18 to2020-21 are given below:

| Years     | Unemployment Rate (UR) (in %)   |
|-----------|---------------------------------|
| Rural     | Rural                           |
| 2017-18   | 5.3                             |
| 2018-19   | 5.0                             |
| 2019-20   | 3.9                             |
| 2020-21   | 3.3                             |
| Urban     | Urban                           |
| 2017-18   | 7.7                             |
| 2018-19   | 7.6                             |
| 2019-20   | 6.9                             |
| 2020-21   | 6.7                             |
| All India | All India                       |
| 2017-18   | 6.0                             |
| 2018-19   | 5.8                             |
| 2019-20   | 4.8                             |
| 2020-21   | 4.2                             |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

As per available  Annual PLFS Reports, Unemployment Rate (UR) for male and female on usual status for age 15 years and above from 2017-18 to 2020-21 are given below:

| Years     | Male Unemployment Rate (UR) (in %)   | Female Unemployment Rate (UR) (in %)   |
|-----------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| All India | All India                            | All India                              |
| 2017-18   | 6.1                                  | 5.6                                    |
| 2018-19   | 6.0                                  | 5.1                                    |
| 2019-20   | 5.0                                  | 4.2                                    |
| 2020-21   | 4.5                                  | 3.5                                    |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The  PLFS  data  indicates  that  unemployment  among  women  is  less compared to men.

Many private companies/bodies/ research organization conduct different  surveys  based  on  their  own  methodology,  CMIE  is  one  amongst them.

Based on PLFS 2019-20, the Economic Survey 2021-22 estimated total number of employment as 53.53 crores.

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. 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 is providing 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.  As  on  13.07.2022  benefits  have  been  provided  to  59.54  lakh beneficiaries.

Pradhan  Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY)  is  being  implemented  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.  Upto  08.07.2022,  35.94  crore  loans  were  sanctioned  under  the scheme.

Budget 2021-22 launched Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, with an outlay of Rs. 1.97 lakh crore, for a period of 5 years starting from 2021-22.  The  PLI  Schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Government  have potential for creating 60 lakh new jobs.  All these initiatives are expected to  collectively  generate  employment  in  the  medium  to  long  term  through multiplier-effects.

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 SabkaPrayas leading to huge job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all.

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 July 11, 2022, 33.34 lakh loans amounting to ₹3,615 Crore have been disbursed to 30.26 lakh beneficiaries 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 VikasYojana (PMKVY) to enhance the employability of youth.

Besides these initiatives, various flagship programmes of the Government such as Make in India, Start-up India, Stand-up India, Digital India, Smart  City Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation  and  Urban Transformation,  Housing  for  All  etc  are  also  oriented  towards  generating employment opportunities.

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