Unemployment rate over 14 percent in Uttarakhand

Fast growing unemployment in the state may also worry the Uttarakhand government which will complete 3 years under CM Trivendra Rawat’s leadership on March 18. The unemployment rate in the state has been estimated at around 14 percent in the Central Labor Force Survey. This is almost three times more than the unemployment rate revealed in the survey conducted by the Planning Department of the state in 2017.

The survey of the National Statistics Office (NSO) till 2019 March has revealed this figure of unemployment in the state. Earlier in 2017, while preparing the Human Development Report, the Planning Department of the state had also conducted a survey on unemployment in the state.

According to this report released in 2019, the unemployment rate in the state is 14.2. The rate was only 2.1 percent in 2003-04. It was also said in the report that the number of people engaged in some kind of employment (work participation) in the state is about 45 percent.

Now it is clear from the labor force survey of NSO that unemployment in the state is much more than this. According to the report, the unemployment rate in the state was found to be 14.2 in March 2019. The national average of unemployment at that time was 9.2 percent. Percentage of total working people was also found to be only 23. Accordingly, unemployment in the state has increased seven times compared to 2003-04.

According to an official of the planning department, the availability of employment at different times was not taken into consideration while preparing the Human Development Report. The survey was conducted between April and June. This round is also part of the Char Dham Yatra in the state. Availability of employment in the state increases during Char Dham Yatra. Because of this the unemployment rate may have been under-reported. The National Statistics Office surveyed four times in 750 different times in 96 blocks of the state at different times and prepared a report of unemployment and employment.

On comparing the three different sectors of the state and Himachal Pradesh, the reasons for unemployment in the state are also emerging. The state has the lowest number of agricultural farmers. Most are in service sector and less in industries.