Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 142 regarding unemployment in urban areas, answered on July 21, 2025. It states that unemployment rates have decreased between 2017-18 and 2023-24, though monthly rates have fluctuated between April and May 2025. The government is implementing various schemes and programs to increase employment and improve employability.
Key Points / Main Content:
Unemployment Data:
* The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) collects employment and unemployment data through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) since 2017-18.
* The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above decreased from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24.
* The unemployment rate in urban areas for persons aged 15 years and above decreased from 7.7% in 2017-18 to 5.1% in 2023-24.
* The PLFS was revamped by MoSPI from January 2025.
* Monthly PLFS reports show the unemployment rate in urban areas was 6.5% in April 2025 and 6.9% in May 2025.
Government Initiatives for Employment Generation:
* The government prioritizes employment generation and improved employability.
* Various schemes and programs are being implemented, including:
* Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
* Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
* PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi)
* Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
* Startup India
* Stand-Up India
* Details of these schemes are available at https:dge.gov.indgeschemesprogrammes.
Skill Development Initiatives:
* The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) since 2015.
* PMKVY provides skill development training through Short-Term Training (STT) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
* The aim is to enhance youth employability with industry-relevant skills.
* The Union Cabinet approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation.
National Career Service (NCS) Portal:
* The Ministry of Labour and Employment runs the National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
* It offers career-related services, including job listings, job fairs, career counseling, and skill development course information.
* The portal is accessible at www.ncs.gov.in.
* As of June 30, 2025, over 6.2 crore vacancies have been mobilized on the NCS Portal.
Impact Analysis:
Job Seekers:
* Impact: Job seekers are affected by the fluctuating unemployment rates and can benefit from government schemes, skill development programs, and the NCS portal.
* Action Required: Utilize the NCS portal to search for jobs, attend job fairs, seek career counseling, and explore skill development courses. Apply for relevant government schemes to enhance employability.
Government (Ministry of Labour and Employment, MoSPI, MSDE):
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring unemployment rates, implementing employment generation schemes, and providing skill development training.
* Action Required: Continue to collect and analyze unemployment data through PLFS. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of employment generation schemes and skill development programs. Maintain and update the NCS portal with relevant information and resources.
Employers (Government, Private, and Public Sector Undertakings):
* Impact: Can list job vacancies on the NCS portal and potentially benefit from a larger pool of skilled candidates.
* Action Required: List job vacancies on the NCS portal to attract a wider range of candidates. Participate in government employment generation schemes where applicable. Collaborate with skill development programs to ensure training aligns with industry needs.
Youth (aged 15 years and above):
* Impact: Can benefit from skill development training to enhance employability.
* Action Required: Participate in skill development programs like PMKVY to acquire industry-relevant skills. Utilize the NCS portal for career guidance and job opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The Indian government ministry responsible for labour and employment policies.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to collect data on employment and unemployment.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The Indian government ministry responsible for statistical data collection, including the PLFS.
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): An employment generation scheme implemented by the Government of India.
Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): A government program focused on urban livelihoods.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): A flagship skill development scheme implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
National Career Service (NCS) Portal: A portal run by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide career-related services.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 142
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21st JULY, 2025
UNEMPLOYMENT IN URBAN AREAS
142. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA :
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the unemployment rate in urban areas has
increased from 17.2 per cent in April to 17.9 per cent in May;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has been able to contain the
unemployment rate from 2024 till date;
(d) if so, the details thereof industry/sector/year-wise; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to increase employment along
with the timeline set for in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (e): 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.
As per the latest available 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.
Further, as per the latest available Annual PLFS reports, the
estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age
15 years and above for urban areas has decreased from 7.7% in 2017-18
to 5.1% in 2023-24.
Also, MoSPI has revamped PLFS from January 2025. As per monthly
PLFS reports, the Unemployment Rate (UR) on Current Weekly Status
(CWS) for persons of age 15 years and above in urban areas were 6.5% in
April 2025 and 6.9% in May 2025. Changes are expected in the monthly
PLFS ratios due to increased frequency and seasonal changes but do not
necessarily reflect secular trends.Employment generation coupled with improving employability is a
priority of the Government. Accordingly, Government is implementing
various employment generation schemes/ programmes. These inter-alia
include Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP),
Deen Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission
(DAY-NULM), PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi),
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Startup India, Stand-Up India, etc.
The details of various employment generation schemes/programmes
being implemented by the Government may be seen at
https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes_programmes.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has
been implementing its flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojana (PMKVY), since 2015 to impart skill development training through
Short-Term Training (STT) and up-skilling and re-skilling through
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to youth across the country with the
to enhance the employability of youth by equipping them with industry
relevant skills.
In addition, the Union Cabinet has approved the Employment
Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation,
enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with
special focus on the manufacturing sector.
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]. As on 30.06.2025, more than 6.2 crore
(which inter-alia include Government, Private and Public Sector
Undertaking) vacancies have been mobilised on NCS Portal.
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