NSSO survey shows unemployment among educated increased sharply in 2017-18

According to the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO’s) first periodic labour force survey, the rate of unemployment among the educated rose sharply in 2017-18.

According to Business Standard, the rate of joblessness for skilled people almost doubled between 2011-12 and 2017-18, even as the number of people who got formal training was low.

The unemployment rate for educated people witnessed the sharpest rise among rural men to 10.5 per cent in 2017-18, compared to 3.6 per cent in 2011-12.

In case of urban educated men, the unemployment rate was more than double, from 4 per cent in 2011-12 to 9.2 per cent in 2017-18.

In the case of women, the rate of unemployment among rural female went up from 9.7 per cent in 2011-12 to 17.3 per cent in 2017-18. Among urban female, the rate of joblessness rose from 10.3 per cent in 2011-12 to 19.8 per cent in 2017-18.

According to NSSO, if a person has completed studies till at least the secondary level (class 9th-10th), he/she is considered to be educated.

Santosh Mehrotra, chairperson at Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, said a rise in the gross secondary enrolment rate in the 15-16 age group was witnessed from 58 per cent in 2010 to 90 per cent in 2016.

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“Such persons can afford to remain unemployed if they are not able to get suitable jobs in the non-agriculture sector. Between 2004-05 and 2011-12, the non-agricultural jobs were growing rapidly, hence, the unemployment rate for educated people was also falling,” he added.

The percentage of youth who received formal training increased from 2.4 per cent in 2011-12 to 2.5 per cent in 2017-18, for all age groups. Apart from this, 2.2 per cent people received vocational training while learning on the job and another 1.8 per cent through self-learning, according to the report.

“The minor decline in the share of those who received vocational training is mainly due to higher enrolment in the general education system. But despite a policy push for skill training, the proportion of trained persons is pathetic,” Business Standard quoted Mehrotra as saying.

The rate of unemployment for trained persons rose from 5.9 percent in 2011-12 to 12.4 per cent in 2017-18.

According to the survey, the national rate of unemployment stood at 6.1 per cent.