India’s Male Workforce Shrinks First Time in a Decade: Report

A reports suggests India’s employment rate has dipped.

India’s unemployment rates, especially male workforce, is at its lowest in a decade. 

(Photo: iStock)

For the first time in nearly a decade, India’s male workforce has shrunk.

Data from the NSSO’s Periodic Labour Force Survey 2017-18, reviewed by The Indian Express, reveals that the numbers have steeped to 6.4% in the rural areas and 4.7% in the urban areas.

The numbers had steadily increased from 21.9 crore in 1993-94 to 30.4 crore in 2011-12. The data points out that there are 28.6 crore employed male in India, suggesting fewer men were employed in 2017-18.

The data requires a deep analysis, but experts believe these numbers mean a dip in job opportunities.

The NSSO report, based on the PLFS conducted between July 2017 and June 2018, which was approved by the commission in December 2018 has been withheld by the government.

The NSSO data shows an employment loss of 4.3 crore (from 30.9 crore in 2011-12 to 26.6 crore in 2017-18) in the rural areas and 0.4 crore (from 11.1 crore in 2011-12 to 10.7 crore in 2017-18) in the urban sector, read the media report.

The women were most affected in the rural sector, about 68%, and men suffered more in the urban areas, about 96%. In all, since 2011-12, India’s national workforce shrunk by 4.7 crore – more than the population of Saudi Arabia, reported The Indian Express.

The PLFS 2017-18 reported a 6.1% unemployment rate compared to 2.2% in 2011-12.

Late last month, Business Standard reported that the unemployment rate had zoomed to a 45-year high of 6.1% during 2017-18, according to the NSSO’s periodic labour force survey (PLFS).

Now, the government wants to take into account the Mudra survey which covers 1 lakh beneficiaries of the loan scheme.

The report also says that there is a difference of opinion between the ministry and Niti Aayog over the modalities of the survey.

(With inputs from The Indian Express, Business Standard)