**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Labour and Employment's response to questions regarding employment opportunities in rural areas, scheduled to be answered on February 2nd, 2026. It outlines the government's initiatives, including the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the eShram portal, job fairs, the National Career Service (NCS) portal, and Model Career Centers (MCCs), to enhance employment opportunities. Data from PLFS reports up to 2023-24 is provided.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data Collection and Trends:**
* 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 survey period is from July to June each year.
* The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for persons aged 15 years and above, including rural areas, shows an increasing trend from 2021-22 to 2023-24:
* 2021-22: Rural (55.6%), Total (52.9%)
* 2022-23: Rural (59.4%), Total (56.0%)
* 2023-24: Rural (62.1%), Total (58.2%)
* **eShram Portal:**
* The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the eShram portal on August 26, 2021, for the registration of unorganized workers, including migrant workers.
* The portal allows unorganized workers to register on a self-declaration basis.
* The main objective is to create a national database of unorganized workers, seeded with Aadhaar, to facilitate registration under existing Social Security and Welfare Schemes.
* As of January 28, 2026, 31.48 crore workers have registered on the portal.
* **Employment Generation Initiatives:**
* The government prioritizes employment generation and improving employability, implementing various schemes/programmes in rural areas.
* Details of these schemes can be found at [https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes](https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes_programmes).
* **Job Fairs:**
* Job fairs are organized under various schemes by State Governments/Ministries/Departments to facilitate linkages between jobseekers and local employers.
* These fairs focus on employment opportunities aligned with local labor market demand.
* 2359 job fairs have been organized in Jharkhand under the National Career Service (NCS) project, with 9141 employers participating.
* Notifying final hiring figures is not a mandatory requirement on the NCS portal.
* **National Career Service (NCS) Portal:**
* The Ministry operates the NCS Portal as a one-stop solution for career-related services, including job search, information on job fairs, career counseling, and skill development.
* The NCS portal has been integrated with the e-Shram portal.
* **Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs):**
* The Ministry has entered into strategic MoUs with private partners to enhance the visibility and access to job opportunities.
* **Model Career Centres (MCCs):**
* Under the NCS project, 407 MCCs have been approved across the country to connect local youth and job-seekers with opportunities through job fairs, the NCS portal, career counseling, and training.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Unorganized Workers**
* **Impact:** Facilitated registration through eShram portal, access to Social Security and Welfare Schemes, and access to diverse employment opportunities through MoUs and NCS portal integration.
* **Action Required:** Register on eShram portal using self-declaration and utilize the NCS portal for available services.
**Stakeholder: Youth in Rural Areas**
* **Impact:** Increased employment opportunities through job fairs, employment generation schemes, and access to career counseling and training at Model Career Centers (MCCs).
* **Action Required:** Participate in job fairs, utilize the NCS portal, and visit MCCs for career counseling and training.
**Stakeholder: State Governments / Ministries / Departments**
* **Impact:** Required to conduct job fairs and implement employment generation schemes.
* **Action Required:** Organize regular job fairs, provide details of employment generation schemes/programmes, and collaborate with the NCS project.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The primary government body responsible for addressing employment opportunities and related initiatives.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to collect data on employment and unemployment.
eShram portal: A national database for unorganized workers.
National Career Service (NCS) Portal: A digital platform providing career-related services, including job search and matching.
Jharkhand: A state in India highlighted for specific data regarding employment opportunities and job fairs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 312
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02ND FEBRUARY, 2026
STATUS OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN RURAL AREAS
312. DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has recently undertaken any
survey/study regarding the employment opportunities in rural
areas of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the number of individuals who have
migrated from rural areas to urban areas in search of employment
during the last three years and the current-year, year and
State/UT-wise, especially in Jharkhand;
(c) whether the Government has introduced any
schemes/projects/initiatives for increasing employment
opportunities in rural areas of the country and if so, the details
thereof;
(d) the total number of beneficiaries of such
schemes/projects/initiatives during the last three years and the
current year, year and State/UT-wise;
(e) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps for
introduction of job-fairs, employment portals and other such
events/programmes to provide jobs to youths in rural areas of the
country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof, especially in Santhal Pargana of
Jharkhand?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (f): The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected
through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since
2017-18. The survey period is July to June every year.
As per the data available in latest Annual PLFS Reports, the
estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR), indicating employment,
including rural areas, on usual status for persons of age 15 years and
above during 2021-22 to 2023-24 were as follows:(in %)
Year Rural Total
2021-22 55.6 52.9
2022-23 59.4 56.0
2023-24 62.1 58.2
Source: PLFS, MoSPI
The above data indicates that the employment has increasing trend
in the country.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched eShram
portal, on 26th August, 2021. It has been made available to the
States/UTs for registration of unorganised workers, including
migrant workers, on eShram portal. It also allows an unorganised worker
to register on the portal on a self-declaration basis. The main objective
of the eShram portal is to create a national database of
unorganized workers, including migrant workers, seeded with Aadhaar,
and facilitate registration under existing Social Security and Welfare
Schemes to such workers. As on 28.01.2026, 31.48
crores workers have registered on this portal.
Employment generation coupled with improving employability of
the youth is a priority of the Government. Accordingly, Government is
implementing various employment generation schemes/ programmes in
the country including rural areas. The details of various employment
generation schemes/programmes being implemented by the Government
may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes_programmes.
Job fair is one of the steps towards fulfilment of the Commitment of
the Government to accord highest priority to employment generation
amongst youth. Regular Job Fairs are being organized under various
schemes by the State Governments/ Ministries/ Departments.
Job fairs are primarily intended to facilitate linkage between
jobseekers and local employers, so as to address local employment
requirements. Such fairs focus on employment opportunities aligned
with local labour market demand. Till date, a total of 2359 job fairs have
been organized in Jharkhand under the National Career Service (NCS)
project, in which 9141 employers have participated. Notifying final hiring
figures is not a mandatory requirement on NCS portal.Additionally, The 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 job
search & matching, information on online & offline job fairs, career
counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development
courses, skill/training programmes etc. through a digital platform
[www.ncs.gov.in].
National Career Service (NCS) portal has also been integrated with
e-Shram portal, which is a database of 31.48 crore unorganized workers.
Through this integration, e-Shram registrants can avail all services
available on the NCS portal.
Ministry has entered into strategic Memoranda of Understanding
(MoUs) with private partners such as job portals, placement
organizations and reputed institutions in order to enhance the visibility
and access to the job opportunities from the reputed and top companies.
These MoUs have been instrumental in expanding outreach and
providing greater access to diverse employment opportunities for youth
across the country including Jharkhand.
Further, under the NCS project, in collaboration with
States/Institutions, Government has approved 407 Model Career Centres
(MCCs) across the country. These centres connect local youth and other
job-seekers with job opportunities through Job fairs, NCS portal as well
as career counselling and training.
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