Parliament Question: Employment Generation and Skill Gaps in Punjab

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 142 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH JULY, 2026 EMPLOYMENT GENERATION AND SKILL GAPS IN PUNJAB 142. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of skill shortages and labour market requirements in Punjab and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of employment generated under Central schemes in Punjab during the last three years and the current year, year-wise; (c) the measures taken by the Government to address migration of skilled youth from the State; and (d) the details of the industry sectors identified for employment expansion in Punjab? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (d): District Skill Committees (DSCs), established across all States/UTs are mandated with formulating District Skill Development Plans (DSDPs) to support decentralized, grassroots-level skill planning by identifying local employment opportunities, skilling demand, and available training infrastructure. Government skill programmes are then designed to bridge these identified skill gaps across sectors. The Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), led by industry experts, regularly conduct skill gap studies to assess sector-wise skill needs and set competency standards, which guide government interventions to align the workforce with industry requirements. Additionally, the SANKALP (Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion)-supported National Skill Gap Study by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) provides a standardized, data-driven framework to assess skill gaps across seven high- growth sectors. It helps MSDE align skilling initiatives with industry demand and future workforce needs. Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Short-Term Training (STT) with embedded On-the-Job Training (OJT) and up-skilling and re- skilling through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are being implemented to equip youth with industry-relevant skills. PMKVY 4.0 also includes training programmes in emerging and new-age job roles. Under PMKVY, as on 31.10.2025, a total of 5,63,591 candidates have been trained/orientedacross more than 30 sectors including 1623 in Sports, 4673 in Textiles & Handloom, and 6521 in Food Processing. Employment generation coupled with improving employability of the youth is a priority of the Government. Accordingly, Government is implementing various employment generation schemes/ programmes. The details of various employment generation schemes/programmes being implemented by the Government may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/schemes_programmes . The employment generated through select schemes of Central Government in the State of Punjab for the last three years is at Annexure. The Central Government in coordination with State Governments is implementing various developmental schemes for creating employment opportunities and improving infrastructure to encourage people to stay in their state, earn their livelihood and raise their quality of life near their places of residence. As per information received Government of Punjab, the Department of Employment Generation Skill Development and Training has taken various measures to address migration of skilled youth from the State by implementing various schemes like (i) Punjab Hunar Vikas Yojana; (ii) Government recruitments (68228 Regular Government jobs have been provided to the youth of Punjab Since 01.04.2022); (iii) Established District Bureau of Employment and Enterprise (DBEE) to facilitate Private Jobs/ Government Jobs/ Self Employment; (iv) A digital platform ( www.punjabrozgar.org.in (a common platform for jobseekers and employers); (v) special efforts to train youth for induction into armed forces/ para-military forces/ state police services as commission officers and soldiers through various institutes; (vi) Punjab Skill Development mission (to provide skill training to the youth that such training is being more effective and placement oriented); etc. Further, Government of Punjab informed that based on the Skill Gap Studies and State Skill Development Plans, the sectors that have been identified as having significant employment potential in Punjab are (i) Construction, (ii) Manufacturing (including Electronics, Textile & Apparel, Engineering and Auto Components), (iii) Healthcare, (iv) Logistics, Transportation and Warehousing, (v) Agriculture and Allied Activities, (vi) Food Processing, (vii) Tourism and Hospitality, (viii) Beauty and Wellness, (ix) Retail, (x) Information Technology and IT-enabled Services, (xi) Renewable Energy (including Solar), (xii) Life Sciences and (xiii) Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI). *****Annexure Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) to (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 142 due for reply on 20.07.2026. Employment generation/beneficiaries in Central Schemes in the State of Punjab Sl. Name of scheme/programme 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 No. 1 Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana 10,39,309 7,07,516 7,17,442 (PMMY) (No. of A/c)) 2 Prime Minister Street Vendor’s 1,13,649 11,218 19,427 AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi Scheme) (No. of beneficiaries) 3 Prime Minister’s Employment 13,221 8,730 12,213 Generation Programme (PMEGP) (No. of estimated employment generated) 4 Mahatma Gandhi National 10,15,694 9,84,897 8,88,478 Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) (No. of workers who availed employment) 5 Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen 8805 3560 817 Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) (No. of candidates {till Oct'25 placed) as on 10.11.'25 (KB)} 6 Rural Self Employment Training 9398 13274 5240 Institutes (RSETIs) (No. of candidates settled) (as on 30.10.2025) 7 Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- 11,550 648 - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) (No. of (till 30.09.24)* skilled trained candidates placed) • Scheme ended on 30th September, 2024 Source: Concerned Ministry