The unemployment rate or proportion of persons aged 15 years and above who could not find jobs declined to 4.1 per cent in July 2021-June 2022 compared to 4.2 per cent noted in the year-ago period, according to the latest government data.
The unemployment rate in 2019-20 (July to June) was 4.8 per cent.
According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (July 2021 to June 2022) issued by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) on Friday, the joblessness or unemployment rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above came down to 4.1 per cent from 4.2 per cent a year ago (2020-21).
Corresponding to this, the unemployment rate for men decreased from 4.5 per cent in 2020–21 to 4.4 per cent in 2021–22. In the 2019–20 period, it was 5 per cent.
Among women, a similar reduction in the unemployment rate was noted. It fell to 3.3 per cent in 2021–2022 from 3.5 per cent in 2020–2021. In 2019–2020, it was 4.2 per cent.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which defines the percentage of employed persons in the population, also improved. The WPR increased to 52.9 per cent in 2021-22 from 52.6 in 2020-21. It was 50.9 per cent in 2019-20. The WPR in females also improved to 31.7 per cent in 2021-22 from 31.4 per cent in 2020-21. The WPR among males rose to 73.8 per cent in 2021-22 from 73.5 per cent in 2020-21.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which shows the percentage of persons in the labour force in the population, improved. The LFPR has risen to 55.2 per cent in 2021-22 from 54.9 per cent in 2020-21. It has also increased among males to 77.2 per cent in 2021-22 from 77 per cent in 2020-21. It rose in females to 32.8 per cent in 2021-22 from 32.5 per cent in 2020-21.
This is the fifth annual report being brought out by NSSO on the basis of the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted during July 2021-June 2022.
Because of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic-related limitations, the field work of PLFS was interrupted in April 2021 in the majority of the nation, according to the ministry. In the first week of June 2021, the field work gradually resumed. Hence, there was some spillover impact when the fieldwork was finished for the various quarters of the survey period of July 2021 to June 2022, which is reflected in the current Annual Report.
The PFLS is conducted to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
It is conducted to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.
The sample size for the survey during July 2021 – June 2022 in rural and urban areas for the annual report was 12,800 FSUs (7,024 villages and 5,776 urban blocks).
The number of households surveyed was 1,01,782 (55,895 in rural areas and 45,887 in urban areas) and the number of persons surveyed was 4,28,525 (2,49,175 in rural areas and 1,79,350 in urban areas).
Among the persons surveyed, the total number of persons of age 15 years and above was 3,27,081 (1,85,551 in rural areas and 1,41,530 in urban areas).