Unemployment rate stands at 8.7% during October-December 2021: NSO Survey

09 May 2022 Evaluate

A periodic labour force survey by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed that the unemployment rate for persons of 15 years and above in urban areas slipped to 8.7 per cent in October-December 2021 from 10.3 per cent in the year-ago quarter. It said joblessness was high in October-December in 2020 mainly due to the staggering impact of the lockdown restrictions in the country, which were imposed to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

According to the survey, the unemployment rate for persons of age 15 years and above in July-September 2021 was 9.8 per cent in urban areas. It also showed that the unemployment rate among females (aged 15 years and above) in urban areas also declined to 10.5 per cent in October-December 2021 from 13.1 per cent a year ago. It was 11.6 per cent in July-September 2021. Among males, the unemployment rate in urban areas also dipped to 8.3 per cent in October-December 2021 compared to 9.5 per cent a year ago. It was 9.3 per cent in July-September 2021.

It further stated that labour force participation rate in CWS (current weekly status) in urban areas for persons 15 years of age and above remained unchanged at 47.3 per cent in the October-December quarter of 2021, compared to the same period a year ago. It was 46.9 per cent in July-September 2021. Labour force refers to the part of the population which supplies or offers to supply labour for pursuing economic activities for the production of goods and services and therefore, includes both employed and unemployed persons.

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