**Executive Summary**
This document is the official response to Unstarred Question No. 442 in Lok Sabha concerning the status of employment, to be answered on February 2nd, 2026. It provides data on unemployment, government measures to address it, and initiatives to enhance skill development and support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The document refers to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for employment and unemployment statistics.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data Collection and Unemployment Rate:**
* Official employment and unemployment data is collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.
* The Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons 15 years and above has decreased from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24. State/UT-wise and age-wise information is available in PLFS reports.
* **Government Initiatives and Schemes:**
* The government prioritizes employment generation coupled with improved employability, especially for youth.
* Various employment generation schemes/programmes are being implemented, details of which can be found at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes.
* The Skill India Mission (SIM) delivers skill, re-skill, and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres under schemes like PMKVY, JSS, NAPS, and CTS.
* **Support for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME):**
* The government implements various schemes for the promotion and development of MSMEs through the Ministry of MSME.
* These include PMEGP, CGTMSE, MSE-CDP, ESDP, PMSS, RAMP, International Cooperation scheme, Tool Rooms, TCSP, NSSH, MSME Champions, PM Vishwakarma etc.
* Initiatives to support the MSME Sector include:
* Registration of MSMEs through "Udyam Registration."
* Integration of Udyam Portal and National Career Service (NCS).
* Launch of Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) to bring the Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) under the formal ambit.
* **Additional Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) initiated 'FutureSkills PRIME' for re-skilling/up-skilling of IT manpower.
* The government is implementing the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana).
* The Ministry of Labour and Employment runs the National Career Service (NCS) Portal as a one-stop solution for career-related services.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Unemployed Individuals**
* **Impact:** Provides information on current unemployment rates and government initiatives to address unemployment and improve employability.
* **Action Required:** Utilize government schemes like Skill India Mission and NCS portal to enhance skills, search for job opportunities, and avail career counseling.
**Stakeholder: Youth**
* **Impact:** Highlights the government's priority on improving youth employability through various skill development programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the Skill India Mission and other relevant skill enhancement programs to acquire industry-relevant skills.
**Stakeholder: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)**
* **Impact:** Provides details on government schemes and initiatives aimed at supporting the growth and development of SMEs.
* **Action Required:** Register through the "Udyam Registration" portal and explore various schemes and initiatives to avail benefits such as financial assistance, marketing support, and access to job seekers through the NCS portal.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The primary ministry responsible for labour and employment-related policies and initiatives.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): Official data collection mechanism for employment and unemployment, conducted by MoSPI.
Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation.
Skill India Mission (SIM): A government initiative focused on delivering skill, re-skill, and up-skill training to the Indian youth.
Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME): Ministry responsible for the promotion and development of MSMEs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 442
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02ND FEBRUARY, 2026
STATUS OF EMPLOYMENT
442. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the recent data on the total number of unemployed
individuals in the country, State/UT and age group-wise;
(b) the details of the steps taken by the Government to address the
increase in the unemployment rate;
(c) the details of the initiatives taken by the Government to enhance
skill development and vocational training to address the skill gap
contributing to unemployment;
(d) the details of the measures taken/being taken by the Government
to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to generate
employment opportunities;
(e) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the
economic impact of the rising unemployment rate on the overall
economy and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government has any long-term strategies to ensure
sustainable employment growth to reduce unemployment rate and
if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (f): The official data on Employment and Unemployment is
collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which is
conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI) since 2017-18.
As per the latest Annual PLFS reports, the estimated
Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and
above has decreased from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24. State/UT-
wise and age-wise information is available in the PLFS reports which
may be seen at the website of MoSPI at
https://www.mospi.gov.in/publications-reports .Employment generation coupled with improving employability
(including for youth) is a priority of the Government. Accordingly,
Government is implementing various employment generation schemes/
programmes in the country. The details of various employment
generation schemes/ programmes being implemented by the Government
may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes_programmes.
Government is also implementing Skill India Mission (SIM) to
deliver skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of
skill development centres/ schools/ colleges /institutes etc. under
various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY),
Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion
Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial
Training Institutes (ITIs) in the country. The SIM aims at enabling youth
of India to get future ready, equipped with industry relevant skills.
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Micro, Small &
Medium Enterprises (MSME), implements various schemes for the
promotion and development of MSMEs across the country. These
schemes/programmes include Prime Minister’s Employment Generation
Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small
Enterprises (CGTMSE), Micro and Small Enterprises-Cluster Development
Programme (MSE-CDP), Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme
(ESDP), Procurement and Marketing Support Scheme (PMSS), Raising
and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP), International Cooperation
scheme, Tool Rooms, Technology Centre System Programme (TCSP),
National SC/ST Hub (NSSH), MSME Champions, PM Vishwakarma etc.
Further, Government has taken a number of initiatives to support
the MSME Sector across the country. Some of these are the following:
Registration of MSMEs through ''Udyam Registration'' for Ease
of Doing Business.
Integration of Udyam Portal and National Career Service
(NCS) of Ministry of Labour & Employment, as an outcome registered
MSMEs are able to search for jobseekers on NCS.
Launch of Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) to bring the Informal
Micro Enterprises (IMEs) under the formal ambit for availing the benefit
under Priority Sector Lending (PSL).Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has
initiated ‘FutureSkills PRIME’ a programme for Re-skilling/Up-skilling of
IT Manpower for Employability in 10 new/emerging technologies
including Artificial Intelligence.
Government is implementing Employment Linked Incentive (ELI)
Scheme named as the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana to
support employment generation, enhance employability and social
security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing
sector. The scheme with an outlay of Rs 99,446 Crore aims to incentivize
the creation of more than 3.5 Crore jobs in the country, over a period of 2
years.
Further, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India,
is running the National Career Service (NCS) Portal which is a one-stop
solution for providing career related services including jobs from private
and government sectors, information on online & offline job fairs, job
search & matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information
on skill development courses, skill/training programmes etc. through a
digital platform [www.ncs.gov.in].
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