Export sector added 1.87 lakh jobs in Jan-Mar quarter

With exports turning positive since November 2009, the sector added 1.87 lakh jobs during the January - March period over the previous quarter.

"As per the quarterly quick surveys conducted by the Labour Bureau..., the employment for the exporting units has increased by 1.87 lakh during January to March over October to December 2009," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

Due to the global economic slowdown that became prominent in 2008, lakhs of people were rendered jobless particularly in the labour intensive export sector. In 2008-09, about 1.16 million people lost their jobs due to export slump in sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery and leather.

After declining for 13 months since October 2008, exports turned positive from November last year.

Exports grew by over 30 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal.

In 2009-10, the overseas shipments were $182 billion, down from the $185 billion in the previous fiscal.