India's workforce grew despite slowdown of 2009-2012

Overall employment in selected labour-intensive sectors of India has seen a net addition of 1.15 million jobs during April 2012 to March 2015 period, parliament was informed on Friday.

The labour ministry has been conducting quarterly quick employment surveys, on the effects of economic slowdown on employment since 2009, covering export-oriented sectors of textiles, handloom and powerloom, metals, gems and jewellery, automobiles, transport, leather and IT.

"According to the last three surveys of National Sample Survey Office on Employment-Unemployment, the workforce grew from 45.90 crore persons in 2004-05 to 46.02 crore persons in 2009-10 and to 47.38 crore persons in 2011-12," Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation V.K. Singh told the Rajya Sabha in a statement.

"The estimates of workforce by major sectors showed an increase in the overall level of employment with an increase in the industry and services sectors during 2004-05 to 2009-10 and 2009-10 to 2011-12," he added.

The minister said the workforce in agriculture and allied activities fell from 24.48 crore in 2009-10 to 23.17 crore in 2011-12. The employment in industry in this period went up from 9.90 crore to 11.49 crore, while the services workforce increased from 11.64 crore to 12.73 crore.

Noting that the government has taken various steps for generating employment in the country, Singh said new schemes had also been launched, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Swatchh Bharat Mission, and Seekho aur Kamao for the skill development of minority communities.

"According to data compiled by National Skill Development Agency, about 76.11 lakh persons were given skill development training in the year 2014-15 up to March, 2015," the minister said.

"Government has notified the National Food Security Act, 2013 on 10.09.2013, which aims to provide for food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices," he added.