Unemployment paints grim picture, highest in 5 years in 2015-16

Unemployment rate in India has shot up to a five-year high of 5 per cent in 2015-16, with the figure significantly higher at 8.7 per cent for women as compared to 4.3 per cent for men, says a report by Labour Bureau.

The figures could be an alarm bell for BJP-ruled government at the Centre, which has taken a series of steps such as 'Make in India' to create jobs for inclusive growth in the country.

According to the fifth annual employment-unemployment survey at all-India level, about 77 per cent of the households were reported to be having no regular wage/salaried person.

It said the unemployment rate was estimated to be 5 per cent at all-India level under the UPS (Usual Principal Status) approach.

Unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent in 2013-14, 4.7 per cent (2012-13), 3.8 per cent (2011-12) and 9.3 per cent (2009-10). Labour Bureau did not bring out any such report for 2014-15.

"In rural sector, unemployment rate was 5.1 per cent whereas in urban sector, the rate was 4.9 per cent under the UPS approach," the report said.

The figure was significantly higher among females compared to males. Female unemployment rate was estimated to be 8.7 per cent, whereas for males it was 4.3 per cent.

In urban areas, female unemployment rate was estimated to be 12.1 per cent at pan-India level compared to 3.3 per cent for males and 10.3 per cent for transgenders.

The survey was conducted across all states and union territories during April 2015 to December 2015.

A total sample of 1,56,563 households were covered in the survey - 88,783 households in the rural sector and 67,780 in the urban sector.

Topping the chart among the states and union territories was Tripura (19.7 per cent) followed by Sikkim (18.1 per cent), Lakshadweep (16.1 per cent), Andaman & Nicobar islands (12.7 per cent), Kerala (12.5 per cent) and Himachal Pradesh (10.6 per cent).