New Delhi, Apr 26 (Mayank Nigam) Labour Ministry on Tuesday came up with a bunch of job related data to state that employment scenario in the country has improved over the years. It rubbished the reports that inferred that nearly 45 crore people might have lost hope of getting a job due to bleak employment situation. The Ministry stated that both labour force and work force in the country increased steadily during 2017-18 to 2019-20. “It is further evident from the above data that the increase in female labour force as well as female worker population ratio during year 2017-18 to 2019-20 is higher compared to increase in male labour force and worker population ratio,” the Ministry said quoting Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). It quoted the Economic Survey 2021-22 to stress that there was an increase of 4.75 crore in employment during 2019-20 compared to 2018-19.
“The increase in labour force during 2019-20 compared to previous year was 4.52 crore. Thus, during 2019-20, more employment was generated than the increase in labour force in the country,” the Ministry said. Rebutting the position taken by a section of experts that a large number of people are unable to find suitable jobs, the Ministry underlined that the complete working age population may not be working or seeking work. “A substantial portion of working age population is either pursuing education (secondary/ higher/ technical education) or engaged in unpaid activities like production of goods for own consumption, unpaid domestic activities or care giving services for household members, volunteering, training etc. Thus, making an inference by some section of media that half of the working age population has lost hope for work is factually incorrect,” said the Ministry.