Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 15-29 year age group in urban areas for January-March, 2024 Quarter for FY24(2023-24). As per PLFS, Kerala topped youth unemployment rate among 15-29 age group at 31.8% for Q4 (Jan-March) FY24.
- While, Delhi registered the lowest unemployment rate among 15-29 age group at 3.1% for Q4 FY24.
- The latest PLFS survey covered 22 states and Union Territories (UTs) across India.
Key Findings:
i.The data showed that overall unemployment rate for 15-29 age group has increased from 16.5% (October-December, 2023) to 17% (January-March, 2024). Also, it is slightly lower than compared to 17.3% for Jan-March, 2023.
ii.The unemployment rate for all age groups increased marginally from 6.5% for Q3 FY24 to 6.7% for Q4 FY24. It is slightly below the 6.8% for Q4FY23(2022-23).
iii.Other than Kerala, states which topped in youth unemployment among 15-29 age group for Q4FY24: Jammu & Kashmir (28.2%), Telangana (26.1%), Rajasthan (24%) and Odisha (23.3%).
iv.PLFS survey showed states which registered lowest unemployment among 15-29 age group for Q4 FY24: Delhi (3.1%), Gujarat (9%), Karnataka (11.5%) and Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) (12.1%).
Female Unemployment Rate:
i.Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) registered the highest unemployment rate for women at 48.6%, followed by Kerala (46.6%), Uttarakhand (39.4%), Telangana(38.4%) and Himachal Pradesh (35.9%).
ii.Delhi recorded lowest unemployment rate for women among all the states and UTs which are covered by PLFS, at 5.7%, followed by Gujarat(10.9%), M.P. (13.5%), Haryana (13.9%) and Karnataka (15%).
iii.PLFS data showed that overall female unemployment has slightly increased from 22.5% Q3 FY24 to 22.7% Q4FY24, and is lower than 22.9% for Q4 FY23.
Male Unemployment Rate:
i.States with highest male unemployment rate is: Kerala (24.3%), Bihar (21.2%), Odisha (20.6%), Rajasthan (20.6%) and Chhattisgarh (19.6%).
ii.States with lowest male unemployment rate is: Delhi (2.5%), Gujarat (8.5%), Karnataka (10.1%), Himachal Pradesh (10.2%) and M.P. (11.7%).
About Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
It was launched by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2017 to achieve the following two purposes:
i.To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators such as- Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate and Unemployment Rate, in the short time interval of 3 months (quarterly) for the urban areas only in the “Current Weekly Status” (CWS.)
ii.To estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both usual Status (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.
Note:
i.Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)– It is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force i.e. working or seeking or available for work, in the population.
ii.Currently Week Status (CWS)– The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey is known as CWS of the person.
About Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
Minister of State (Independent Charge) – Rao Inderjit Singh (Constituency- Gurugram, Haryana)
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
