Lok Sabha Question No. 430 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Discouraged Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Aparupa  Poddar

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 430

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## DISCOURAGED WORKERS

## 430.   SHRIMATI APARUPA PODDAR :

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

- (a) the unemployment rate in the country from 2005 to 2023, year-wise;
- (b) the number and percentage of 'Discouraged workers' in the country in last 5 years, year-wise and State-wise;
- (c) the  percentage  of  unemployed  youth  in  the  country  in  2023,  State-wise; and
- (d) the percentage of rural unemployment in the country in 2023, State-wise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a)  to  (d):  The  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected  through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July to June every year.

As per the latest available Annual PLFS Reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above in the country are as follows:

| Year    |   UR (in %) |
|---------|-------------|
| 2017-18 |         6   |
| 2018-19 |         5.8 |
| 2019-20 |         4.8 |
| 2020-21 |         4.2 |
| 2021-22 |         4.1 |
| 2022-23 |         3.2 |

Source : PLFS, MoSPI

The  data  indicates  that  the  unemployment  rate  in  the  country  has  a declining trend over the years.

As  per  the  latest  available  Annual  PLFS  Reports,  the  estimated  Labour Force Participation  Rate    (LFPR)  and  Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR)  on  usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during the last five years  are as follows:

| Years   |   LFPR (in %) | WPR (in %)   |
|---------|---------------|--------------|
| 2018-19 |          50.2 | 47.3         |
|         |          53.5 | 2019-20 50.9 |
| 2020-21 |          54.9 | 52.6         |
| 2021-22 |          55.2 | 52.9         |
| 2022-23 |          57.9 | 56.0         |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The data indicates that the labour force participation rate in the country has  increasing  trend  which  reflects  that  more  and  more  people  are  joining labour  force  over  the  years.  Further,  the  worker  population  ratio,  indicating employment, has an increasing trend over the years.

The  State/UT-wise  estimated  Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR),  indicating employment, on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during 201819 to 2022-23 is at Annexure-I.

The State/UT-wise Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15-29 years during 2022-23 is at Annexure-II.

The State/UT-wise Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during 2022-23 is at Annexure-III.

The State/UT-wise Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above in rural areas during 2022-23 is at Annexure-IV.

*****

Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred

Question No. 430 due for reply on 05.02.2024

State/UT-wise Worker Population Ratio (WPR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during 2018-19 to 2022-23

(in %)

| S. No.     | States/UTs          | 2018- 19   |   2019- 20 | 2020- 21   | 2021- 22   | 2022- 23   |
|------------|---------------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
| 1          | Andhra Pradesh      | 54.8       |       55.5 | 58.6       | 57.8       | 58.6       |
| 2          | Arunachal Pradesh   | 40.9       |       44.3 | 48.5       | 47.1       | 64.9       |
| 3          | Assam               | 43.4       |       43.2 | 50.5       | 52.1       | 54.5       |
| 4          | Bihar               | 36.4       |       39.7 | 39.9       | 39.3       | 47.0       |
| 5          | Chhattisgarh        | 61.2       |       65.4 | 63.6       | 64.9       | 70.1       |
| 6          | Delhi               | 44.5       |       43.3 | 42.7       | 42.3       | 45.8       |
| 7          | Goa                 | 45.9       |       47.3 | 43.4       | 41.6       | 45.1       |
| 8          | Gujarat             | 49.7       |       54.7 | 55.0       | 56.8       | 61.5       |
| 9          | Haryana             | 41.9       |       42.9 | 44.0       | 42.5       | 44.9       |
| 10         | Himachal Pradesh    | 63.9       |       70.5 | 69.5       | 71.2       | 73.8       |
| 11         | Jharkhand           | 44.9       |       53.6 | 59.6       | 60.7       | 60.9       |
| 12         | Karnataka           | 49.3       |       53.1 | 55.3       | 53.0       | 55.6       |
| 13         | Kerala              | 44.9       |       45.3 | 46.1       | 48.8       | 50.5       |
| 14         | Madhya Pradesh      | 52.3       |       57.7 | 60.2       | 60.7       | 63.4       |
| 15         | Maharashtra         | 50.6       |       55.7 | 53.9       | 55.9       | 57.6       |
| 16         | Manipur             | 44.3       |       45.5 | 41.0       | 40.6       | 48.7       |
| 17         | Meghalaya           | 61.8       |       58.6 | 62.0       | 60.5       | 65.8       |
| 18         | Mizoram             | 45.6       |       50.7 | 54.5       | 48.9       | 55.2       |
| 19         | Nagaland            | 38.1       |       44.8 | 49.5       | 58.4       | 69.4       |
| 20         | Odisha              | 47.6       |       51.9 | 53.5       | 52.4       | 58.9       |
| 21         | Punjab              | 44.2       |       47.8 | 47.2       | 48.5       | 50.2       |
| 22         | Rajasthan           | 50.0       |       55   | 55.3       | 54.7       | 58.8       |
| 23         | Sikkim              | 61.1       |       68.8 | 71.3       | 69.9       | 74.0       |
| 24         | Tamil Nadu          | 51.4       |       55.3 | 56.9       | 55.8       | 54.7       |
| 25         | Telangana           | 50.6       |       55.7 | 57.8       | 58.1       | 57.7       |
| 26         | Tripura             | 41.9       |       49.6 | 53.8       | 50.6       | 54.3       |
| 27         | Uttarakhand         | 41.4       |       49.5 | 48.7       | 48.7       | 53.5       |
| 28         | Uttar Pradesh       | 40.8       |       45.1 | 48.0       | 50.1       | 53.9       |
| 29         | West Bengal         | 49.7       |       49.7 | 53.0       | 52.7       | 56.1       |
| 30         | Andaman & N. Island | 49.1       |       49.8 | 58.2       | 59.2       | 60         |
| 31         | Chandigarh          | 47.3       |       45.5 | 43.1       | 42.2       | 45.6       |
| 32 Dadra & | Nagar Haveli        | 68.6       |       72.2 |            |            |            |
| 33         | Daman & Diu         | 55.1       |       64.5 | 54.0       | 65.8       | 65.0       |
| 34         | Jammu & Kashmir     | 52.9       |       52.5 | 55.5       | 58.3       | 60.7       |
| 35         | Ladakh              | -          |       62.7 | 69.1       | 58.1       | 57.0       |
| 36         | Lakshadweep         | 29.5       |       48   | 40.1       | 37.2       | 35.5       |
| 37         | Puducherry          | 47.8       |       47.7 | 48.1       | 51.2       | 49.6       |
|            | All India           | 47.3       |       50.9 | 52.6       | 52.9       | 56.0       |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

Annexure-II

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  of  part  (a)  to  (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred Question No. 430 due for reply on 05.02.2024 State/UT-wise Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15-29

years during 2022-23 (in %)

| S. No.   | States/UTs                         |      |
|----------|------------------------------------|------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                     | 15.7 |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh                  | 17.6 |
| 3        | Assam                              |  4.3 |
| 4        | Bihar                              | 13.9 |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh                       |  7.1 |
| 6        | Delhi                              |  6.1 |
| 7        | Goa                                | 27.4 |
| 8        | Gujarat                            |  5.1 |
| 9        | Haryana                            | 17.5 |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh                   | 12.5 |
| 11       | Jharkhand                          |  4.7 |
| 12       | Karnataka                          |  8.5 |
| 13       | Kerala                             | 28.7 |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh                     |  4.4 |
| 15       | Maharashtra                        | 10.9 |
| 16       | Manipur                            | 19.7 |
| 17       | Meghalaya                          | 18   |
| 18       | Mizoram                            | 11.9 |
| 19       | Nagaland                           | 18.5 |
| 20       | Odisha                             | 13.8 |
| 21       | Punjab                             | 17.5 |
| 22       | Rajasthan                          | 12.5 |
| 23       | Sikkim                             | 10.2 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu                         | 17.5 |
| 25       | Telangana                          | 15.1 |
| 26       | Tripura                            |  6.1 |
| 27       | Uttarakhand                        | 14.2 |
| 28       | Uttar Pradesh                      |  7   |
| 29       | West Bengal                        |  7.1 |
| 30       | Andaman & N. Island                | 24.6 |
| 31       | Chandigarh                         |  7.2 |
| 32       | Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu |  4.4 |
| 33       | Jammu & Kashmir                    | 13.7 |
| 34       | Ladakh                             | 28.1 |
| 35       | Lakshadweep                        | 41.6 |
| 36       | Puducherry                         | 23.2 |
|          | All India                          | 10   |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

Annexure-III

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred Question No. 430 due for reply on 05.02.2024

State/UT-wise Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above in Rural areas during 2022-23 (in %)

| S. No.   | States/UTs                         |   2022-23 |
|----------|------------------------------------|-----------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                     |       3.3 |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh                  |       3.9 |
| 3        | Assam                              |       1.5 |
| 4        | Bihar                              |       3.6 |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh                       |       1.4 |
| 6        | Delhi                              |      10.2 |
| 7        | Goa                                |      11.3 |
| 8        | Gujarat                            |       1.4 |
| 9        | Haryana                            |       5.8 |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh                   |       3.5 |
| 11       | Jharkhand                          |       0.9 |
| 12       | Karnataka                          |       1.5 |
| 13       | Kerala                             |       6.5 |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh                     |       0.8 |
| 15       | Maharashtra                        |       2.2 |
| 16       | Manipur                            |       4.5 |
| 17       | Meghalaya                          |       5   |
| 18       | Mizoram                            |       1.2 |
| 19       | Nagaland                           |       2.9 |
| 20       | Odisha                             |       3.6 |
| 21       | Punjab                             |       6.2 |
| 22       | Rajasthan                          |       3.4 |
| 23       | Sikkim                             |       2.2 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu                         |       3.8 |
| 25       | Telangana                          |       2.8 |
| 26       | Tripura                            |       1.1 |
| 27       | Uttarakhand                        |       3.9 |
| 28 Uttar | Pradesh                            |       1.5 |
| 29       | West Bengal                        |       1.5 |
| 30       | Andaman & N. Island                |       6.6 |
| 31       | Chandigarh                         |       3.2 |
| 32       | Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu |       4.1 |
| 33       | Jammu & Kashmir                    |       3.4 |
| 34       | Ladakh                             |       5.7 |
| 35       | Lakshadweep                        |       5.6 |
| 36       | Puducherry                         |       5.9 |
|          | All India                          |       2.4 |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

Annexure-IV

Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred Question No. 430 due for reply on 05.02.2024

State/UT-wise Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above during 2022-23 (in %)

| S. No.   | States/UTs                         |   2022-23 |
|----------|------------------------------------|-----------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh                     |       4.1 |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh                  |       4.8 |
| 3        | Assam                              |       1.7 |
| 4        | Bihar                              |       3.9 |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh                       |       2.4 |
| 6        | Delhi                              |       1.9 |
| 7        | Goa                                |       9.7 |
| 8        | Gujarat                            |       1.7 |
| 9        | Haryana                            |       6.1 |
| 10       | Himachal Pradesh                   |       4.3 |
| 11       | Jharkhand                          |       1.7 |
| 12       | Karnataka                          |       2.4 |
| 13       | Kerala                             |       7   |
| 14       | Madhya Pradesh                     |       1.6 |
| 15       | Maharashtra                        |       3.1 |
| 16       | Manipur                            |       4.7 |
| 17       | Meghalaya                          |       6   |
| 18       | Mizoram                            |       2.2 |
| 19       | Nagaland                           |       4.3 |
| 20       | Odisha                             |       3.9 |
| 21       | Punjab                             |       6.1 |
| 22       | Rajasthan                          |       4.4 |
| 23       | Sikkim                             |       2.2 |
| 24       | Tamil Nadu                         |       4.3 |
| 25       | Telangana                          |       4.4 |
| 26       | Tripura                            |       1.4 |
| 27       | Uttarakhand                        |       4.5 |
| 28 Uttar | Pradesh                            |       2.4 |
| 29       | West Bengal                        |       2.2 |
| 30       | Andaman & N. Island                |       9.7 |
| 31       | Chandigarh                         |       4   |
| 32       | Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu |       2.5 |
| 33       | Jammu & Kashmir                    |       4.4 |
| 34       | Ladakh                             |       6.1 |
| 35       | Lakshadweep                        |      11.1 |
| 36       | Puducherry                         |       5.6 |
|          | All India                          |       3.2 |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI