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Unemployment
Context:
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the period from July 2023 to June 2024, released by the Labour Bureau, indicates that the unemployment rate remains largely unchanged.
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- There has been a slight increase in the number of workers in agriculture, while the manufacturing sector has shown no growth in job creation compared to previous years.
- Notably, the participation of women in the workforce has improved.
Findings
- According to a statement by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in rural areas increased from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 63.7% in 2023-24, while in urban areas, it grew from 47.6% to 52.0%.
- For men, the LFPR rose from 75.8% to 78.8%, and for women, it increased significantly from 23.3% to 41.7% over the same period.
- The LFPR for Muslim women grew from 15% in 2021-22 to 21.4% in 2023-24, while for Hindu women, it rose from 26.1% to 33.3%.
- Among Sikh women, the rate increased from 19.8% to 26.7%, and for Christian women, it grew from 34.2% to 38.3% in the same period.
- The unemployment rate (UR) in rural areas dropped from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.5% in 2023-24, while in urban areas, it fell from 7.7% to 5.1%.
- The UR for men decreased from 6.1% to 3.2%, and for women, it dropped from 5.6% to 3.2%.
- The overall unemployment rate stands at 3.2%, consistent with last year.
Steps taken by Government
Skill Development and Employability:
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- Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): Launched in 2015, this scheme aims to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training and secure a better livelihood.
- National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS): Implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to promote apprenticeship training.
- Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS): Conducted through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to enhance the employability of youth.
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Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship:
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- Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): Provides collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh to micro and small businesses to help them set up or expand their ventures.
- Stand Up India Scheme: Launched in 2016 to provide bank loans from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to at least one SC/ST borrower and one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up greenfield enterprises.
- Start-up India Scheme: Aims to develop an ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurship across the country.
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Rural Employment Generation:
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- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Guarantees 100 days of paid unskilled work per year to rural households.
- Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): Focuses on rural youth training for employment.
- Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Encourages self-employment and job creation in the micro-enterprise sector.
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Infrastructure Development:
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- PM GatiShakti: A transformative approach driven by seven engines (roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistics infrastructure) to generate employment opportunities.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes: With an outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore over five years, these schemes have the potential to create 60 lakh new jobs.
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