Centre's Unemployment Data Contradicts CMIE, It Is 3.2%, Claims Labour Ministry

Central government today informed the Parliament that the unemployment rate in the country for the year 2022-2023 is 3.2% while Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) had reported earlier that the unemployment rate among persons aged 15 years and above fell to 8.7 per cent in December 2023 from 8.9 per cent in the previous month. In the first 11 months of 2023, the CMIE report had also said that, the unemployment rate had averaged at around 8.1 per cent.

Union government collects the data on employment and unemployment through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & 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 during the period 2018-19 was 5.8%, while, for 2019-20 it was 4.8% and for 2020-21 it was 4.2%.

For the period of 2021-22, the government had reported 4.1% unemployment rate.

“The data indicates that the unemployment rate has declining trend in the country over the years,” Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli informed the Rajya Sabha today while responding to a question asked by member Ram Nath Thakur.

“Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government”

The minister added that employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the Government, and added that the Government of India has taken various steps for generating employment in the country, including rural youth, accordingly.

“The Government of India has announced Aatmanirbhar Bharatpackage 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 19.01.2024, benefits have been provided to 60.49 lakhs beneficiaries under the scheme,” the minister added.

He also said the government is implementing Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbharNidhi (PM SVANidhi Scheme) since June 1, 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 January 31, 2024, 83.67 lakh loans have been sanctioned under the scheme.

“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. Upto 26.01.2024, 46.16 crore loans were sanctioned under the scheme. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme 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,” the minister added.

“The Government is implementing a programme for skilling of rural youth for entrepreneurship development through Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs). Further, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) Scheme and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) 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, Housing for All etc. are also oriented towards generating employment opportunities,” he said.