New Delhi: The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rameswar Teli said that there is a declining trend in unemployment rate of graduate degree holders.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha Teli informed that the data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.

The survey period is July to June of next year. As per the latest available Annual PLFS Reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for graduate persons of age 15 years and above was 17.2 percent, 15.5 percent and 14.9 percent during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively, which shows a declining trend in unemployment rate of graduate degree holders.

The Government is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) project to provide a variety of employment related services like job search and matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses etc. through a digital platform.

Further, the Government has taken various steps to bridge the gap between skilled labour and employment. The Government has brought in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which aims to integrate vocational education programmes into mainstream education in all educational institutions in a phased manner. Beginning with vocational exposure at early ages in middle and secondary school, quality vocational education will be integrated smoothly into higher education.

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) was launched with effect from October 1, 2020 to incentivize employers for creation of new employment and restoration of loss of employment during Covid-19 pandemic. The terminal date for registration of beneficiaries was 31.03.2022.

Since inception of the scheme, till 11.03.2023, benefits of Rs. 8805.0 Crore have been provided to 60.3 lakhs beneficiaries.

The Government is implementing “Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)”, a program conceived for students in degree courses, primarily non-technical, with a view to introduce employable skills into their learning, promote apprenticeship as integral to education and also amalgamate employment facilitating efforts of the education system so that clear pathways towards employment opportunities are available to students during and after their graduation.

To enhance the employability of the youth, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is implementing the “National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)” wherein the Government reimburses 25 percent of the stipend payable to apprentices.

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