Question : Job Losses-Unemployment

(a) whether it is true that 90 lakh job losses have been registered in the last six years and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(b) whether it is also a fact that the rate of unemployment has been the highest in the last three years therein and if so, the action taken by the Government to achieve the target to employ one crore people per year;
(c) the details of the unemployment rate in rural and urban areas in the country as on 01.01.2014 and as on 31.10.2019;
(d) the reasons for the increase of unemployment rate and the remedies/steps taken by the Government;
(e) whether the report of the National Sample Survey Organisation that the country’s unemployment rose to a 45 year high of 6.1% in 2018 is correct; and
(f) if so, whether the Government has taken any action to reduce the same in the coming years and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a to f): As per the results of annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation during 2017-18 and annual employment–unemployment surveys conducted by Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment, the estimated unemployment rate in rural and urban areas on usual status (principal status + subsidiary status) basis for the persons of age 15 years and above to the extent available is given below:


Unemployment Rate
Region Survey by
Labour Bureau Survey by NSO(PLFS)
2013-14 2015-16 2017-18
Rural 2.9% 3.4% 5.3%
Urban 4.9% 4.4% 7.7%
(Note: Survey methodology and sample selection are different in PLFS and Labour Bureau survey)
Moreover, as per the result of the PLFS, the estimated unemployment rate on usual status (principal status+subsidiary status) basis for persons of all ages in the country was 6.1%.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government. Government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country like encouraging private sector of economy, fast-tracking various projects involving substantial investment and increasing public expenditure on schemes such as 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 Deendyal Antodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) has been initiated by Government inter alia 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.

Government has implemented the National Career Service (NCS) Project which comprises a digital portal that provides a nation-wide online platform for the job seekers and employers for job-matching in a dynamic, efficient and responsive manner and has a repository of career content to job seekers.

Besides, Ministries/ Departments/ States run skill development schemes across various sectors to improve the employability of youth and also facilitate placements. Schemes such as the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) wherein Government reimburses 25 percent of the stipend payable to apprentices also enhances employability of the youth to access employment.

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