Unemployment rate up at 4.9% in 2013-14: Labour Bureau

Unemployment rate in India rose to 4.9 percent in 2013-14, mainly on account of increase in joblessness in rural areas despite the government's flagship employment scheme MGNREGA.

According to the latest survey report by Labour Bureau, a wing of Labour Ministry, the unemployment rate inched up to 4.9 percent at all India level last fiscal, from 4.7 percent in 2012-13. On the positive side, the unemployment rate dropped in urban areas to 5.5 percent in 2013-14, from 5.7 percent in the previous fiscal.

Meanwhile, although 93 percent of the households in rural areas benefited from MGNREGA, the unemployment rate increased to 4.7 percent last fiscal, compared to 4.4 percent a year ago. Unemployment rate among men increased to 4.1 percent in 2013-14, from 4 percent in 2012-13. Among women, it increased to 7.7 percent last fiscal, from 7.2 percent in 2012-13.

However, the unemployment rate among women came down to 12.4 percent in urban areas, from 12.8 percent in 2012-13. The study revealed that the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is estimated to be 52.5 percent last fiscal, whereas the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) is estimated to be 49.9 percent. As many as 49.5 percent people are estimated to be self employed, followed by 30.9 percent as casual labour, 16.5 percent wage/salary earners and the rest 3 percent as contract workers.