After two members of the National Statistical Commission resigned citing the Narendra Modi-led government’s deliberate delay in publishing employment data, it was reported that National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) periodic labour force survey shows that unemployment rate in the country increased to a forty five-year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18.
According to the unreleased report, accessed by Business Standard, for the July 2017-June 2018 period, unemployment was the highest since 1972-1973. In 2011-12, the rate of unemployment was 2.2 per cent, reported Business Standard.
Business Standard reported that the NSSO report shows that unemployment was higher in urban areas (7.3 per cent) as compared to rural areas (5.3 per cent). Unemployment rate among youth (15-29 years) tripled from from 5 per cent in 2011-12 to 17.4 per cent in 2017-18.
Unemployment among youth (%) (15-29 years)
| 2004-2005 | 2009-2010 | 2011-2012 | 2017-2018 | |
| Rural Male |
3.9 |
4.7 |
5.0 |
17.4 |
| Rural Female |
4.2 |
4.6 |
4.8 |
13.6 |
| Urban Male |
8.8 |
7.5 |
8.1 |
18.7 |
| Urban Female |
14.9 |
14.3 |
13.1 |
27.2 |
The unreleased data reportedly also shows that labour force participation rate (LFPR) – the proportion of population working or seeking jobs – went down from 39.5 per cent in 2011-12 to 36.9 per cent in 2017-18.
The findings of the report provide much awaited insight into the impact of demonetisation, announced in 2016, on the job market in the country. While independent estimates such as those provided by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CIME) had already suggested that unemployment rate had risen following demonetisation, there was no government data available on the same.
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