Page 1 of 82
Post COVID-19 Employment Scenario in India
BibekDebroy*& Chirag Dudani*
I. INTRODUCTION
The world economy is still reeling under the downturn caused by the Covid-19
pandemic. The necessary lockdowns and uncertainty lead to a massive decline in demand
along with throwing the supply chains into disarray. This massively disrupted the business
cycles and substantially shrunk the world economy, causing unprecedented damage in the
21st century to the lives and livelihoods of people.
While the process of recovery is still underway and the pandemic is still ongoing, it is
vital to understand the underlying changes to better respond in terms of measures to be taken.
One of the crucial levers to analyse for an economy, especially one with a high proportion of
young working age population like India, is the ‘Employment Scenario’. While a lot of other
indicators like GDP give crucial insights, but isn’t as effective in assessing the entire
population due to the higher weights of top deciles in the indicator. Employment indicators
cover the entire population and when analysed over a period of time aid in understanding
substantive changes in the overall economic scenario of the population.
One of the challenges in analysing employment scenario is the lack of consistent job
data especially during Covid-19 pandemic. Initially ‘Annual Survey of Employment and
Unemployment’ was carried out by the Labour Bureau1. Subsequently in April
2017,‘National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)’ was entrusted the task to conduct ‘Periodic
Labour Force Surveys (PLFS)’ to have reliable high frequency data for urban areas released
quarterly and annual numbers for both rural and urban areas. The last PLFS results were
published for January to March 2020 for the urban areas2.
The alternative is to use data from a private firm that has continued to publish data
series even during the pandemic period. ‘Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Private Ltd.
(CMIE)’ using its ‘Consumer Pyramids Household Survey (CPHS)’ publishes monthly
employment indicators at the state level at a regional(rural/urban), educational, age, gender
and other levels. This is important as a national level figure for a diverse country with the 2nd
highest population and wide intra state economic differences masks a lot of varied regional
realties. Hence, it’s important to analyse data at the state level even from an administrative
perspective, further delving to regional, gender, age and educational levels. For rural areas,
it’s also important to look at ‘Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA)’ employment figures to understand how effectively it was used by the states
since it acts as a de facto job insurance mechanism.
*The figures were taken for analysis as on the portal on 8 March 2021.
* Chairman and Assistant Consultant respectively of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) 1Annual Report of ‘Ministry of Labour and Employment’ 2017-18 https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/ANNUAL_REPORT_2017-18-ENGLISH.pdf 2Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation Press Note 4 June 2020 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1629366
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II. TABLE OF REFERENCES
1 NSSO National Sample Survey Office
2 PLFS Periodic Labour Force Survey
3 CMIE Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Private Ltd.
4 CPHS Consumer Pyramids Household Survey
5 MGNREGA Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
6 UE Unemployment
7 UER Unemployment Rate
8 ER Employment Rate
9 LFPR Labour Force Participation Rate
10 LPR Labour Participation Rate
Page 3 of 82
III. ANALYSIS OF STATES
1. Andhra Pradesh
Figure 1: Andhra Pradesh Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 2: Andhra Pradesh Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
30,00,000
35,00,000
40,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment RateState Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 4 of 82
Figure 3: Andhra Pradesh Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 4: Andhra Pradesh Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 5 of 82
Figure 5: Andhra Pradesh Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 6: Andhra Pradesh Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 6 of 82
Figure 7: Andhra Pradesh - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Andhra Pradesh’s rural UER peaked at 16.4% in April 2020 (figure 1), though still
below national average. Effective use of MGNREGA, which saw a marked increase
post Aril, was vital in bringing down rural UER to 7.7% in July 2020. Rural UE in the
state has nearly come down to pre-Covid levels with a 3.3% rural UER in February
2021 but LPR was still below the earlier levels, indicating a decrease in rural labour
force. April- May 2020 (figure 3) saw a peak in both male and female UER in rural
part, with a fall in LPR in both categories. There was a wide gap between male and
female LPR with female LPR being nearly a fifth of male LPR at 13.7% and 67.5%
respectively in February 2021.
A similar peak of 32.3% urban UER was seen in April 2020 (figure 2), higher than the
national average of 24.95% at the time. Urban UER and LPR have stabilised to pre-
Covid levels. An even wider gap in male and female LPR was seen in the urban areas,
with female LPR at 8.7% in February 2021 compared to 64% male LPR. Low female
LPR in both rural as well as urban areas indicate the potential of economic
improvements both at the state and the household levels if concerted efforts are made
in this direction.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas, with
especially high rates in the age brackets between 15-24 years (figure 5 and 6). The
levels though high improve at 25-29 years. UER at the education level of ‘Graduate&
above’ seems to be a major challenge with their UER at 26.11% in February 2021,
significantly higher than sub 5% UER at other educational levels.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 7 of 82
2. Assam
Figure 8: Assam Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 9: Assam Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
1,00,000
2,00,000
3,00,000
4,00,000
5,00,000
6,00,000
7,00,000
8,00,000
9,00,000
10,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 8 of 82
Figure 10: AssamRural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure11: Assam Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 9 of 82
Figure12: Assam Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure13: AssamUrban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 10 of 82
Figure14: Assam - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Assam’srural UER peaked at 9.38% in May 2020 (figure 8), though less than
half of national average. Rural UE in the state has come down below pre-Covid levels
with a 1.52% rural UER in February 2021. Rural LPR has varied widely across the
months with no particular trend, the February figure being 43.71%. There was a lot of
variation in female rural LPR going as high 34% in September 2020 to nearly a fourth
at 7.59% in February 2021(figure 10). There was a wide gap between male and female
LPR.
Urban UER has generally been high even pre-Covid, hovering at over 10%, with
a peak of 24.95% seen in April 2020 (figure 9), even though lower than the national
average of 24.95% at the time. Urban UER have surprisingly fallen below pre-Covid
levels at 2.41% in February 2021, though this was in the backdrop of a near 3% fall in
LPR compared to the previous year.Female LPR was lower in urban areas with it being
8.4% in February 2021 compared to a 73% male LPR at the time(figure 11).
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24 years’ (figure 12 and 13).
These levels surprisingly see a fall in recent quarters in urban areas.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 11 of 82
3. Bihar
Figure15: Bihar Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure16: Bihar Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
2,50,000
5,00,000
7,50,000
10,00,000
12,50,000
15,00,000
17,50,000
20,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 12 of 82
Figure17: Bihar Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure18: Bihar Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 13 of 82
Figure19: Bihar Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure20: Bihar Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 14 of 82
Figure21: Bihar - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Bihar’s rural UER peaked at a striking 47.26% in May2020 (figure 15), more
than double national average at the time at 21%. Effective use of MGNREGA, which
saw a marked increase post Aril, contributed in bringing down rural UER to 12% in
July 2020. Rural UE in the state has nearly come down to pre-Covid levels with a
11.2% rural UER in February 2021 but LPR was still marginally below the earlier
levels. State rural UE continues to be significantly higher than national average.Rural
female LPR was exceptionally low at sub 4% rates (figure 17). There was a wide gap
between male and female LPR with female LPR being a fraction of male LPR at2.2%
and 63% respectively in February 2021.
Urban UER has generally been high even pre-Covid, hovering around 15%, with
a peak of 58.77% seen in April 2020 (figure 16), more than double the national
average of 24.95% at the time. Though urban UER has stabilised to pre-Covid levels,
labour force has shrunk by 3% compared to last year. A similar gap in male and female
LPR was seen in the urban areas, with female LPR at 3.3% in February 2021 compared
to 62.8% male LPR(figure 19). Extremely low female LPR in both rural as well as
urban areas indicate the potential of economic improvements both at the state and the
household levels if concerted efforts are made in this direction.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
with especially high rates in the age brackets between 15-24 years, with these levels
are higher than pre-Covid in urban areas (figure 20 and 21). ç, indicating the lack of
white-collar employment opportunities in the state.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 15 of 82
4. Chhattisgarh
Figure 22: Chhattisgarh Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 23: Chhattisgarh Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
2,50,000
5,00,000
7,50,000
10,00,000
12,50,000
15,00,000
17,50,000
20,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 16 of 82
Figure 24: Chhattisgarh Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 25: Chhattisgarh Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 17 of 82
Figure 26: Chhattisgarh Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 27: Chhattisgarh Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 18 of 82
Figure 28: Chhattisgarh - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Chhattisgarh’s rural UER peaked at 12.37% in April 2020 (figure 22), almost
double national average of 6.5% at the time. Rural UE in the state has come down to
pre-Covid levels with a 6% rural UER in February 2021 but LPR was 4% lower than
the previous year, indicating a decrease in rural labour force. Female LPR in rural
areas remains low at 8.55% compared to 69% male LPR in February 2021(figure 24).
A peak of 25.73% urban UER was seen in June 2020 (figure 23), more than
double the national average of 11.68% at the time. Urban UER has stabilised to pre-
Covid levels, but the LPR has shrunk by over 4% compared to the previous year.
Female LPR at 14.22% in February 2021 was better than rural areas, but far lower than
urban male LPR of 69.34% at the time(figure 25). Urban female LPR has decreased by
over 4% compared to last year.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas
(figure 26 and 27). The levels at the ‘20-24 year’ bracket was higher than pre-
pandemic figure in the rural areas. UER at the education level of ‘Graduate & above’
seems to be a major challenge with their UER at 26.16% in February 2021, more than
double compared to the last year.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 19 of 82
5. Gujarat
Figure 29: Gujarat Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 30: Gujarat Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
50,000
1,00,000
1,50,000
2,00,000
2,50,000
3,00,000
3,50,000
4,00,000
4,50,000
5,00,000
5,50,000
6,00,000
6,50,000
7,00,000
7,50,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 20 of 82
Figure 31: Gujarat Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 32: Gujarat Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 21 of 82
Figure 33: Gujarat Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 34: Gujarat Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 22 of 82
Figure 35: Gujarat - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Gujarat’s rural UER peaked at 12.56% in May 2020 (figure 29), though below
the national average of 21.11% at the time. A subsequent increase in MGNREGA
employment provided was accompanied by rural UER coming down. Rural UE was at
3% in February 2021, less than half the rate of the previous year, though this was in the
backdrop of rural LPR falling by over 4% compared to the previous year. Rural female
LPR at 23.3 % in February 2021 was higher than the national average, but still a third
of rural male LPRat 72.79% (figure 31).
A peak of 25.94% urban UER was seen in April 2020 (figure 30). Urban UER
has fallen below pre-Covid levels at 3.35% in February 2021 compared to 6% in
February 2020, though this was coupled with an over 3% fall in LPR compared to the
previous year. Female LPR in urban areas at 8.17% in February 2021was lower than
the rural areas, and was also nearly 6% below the same figure in the previous year
(figure 32).
Like the rest of the country, therewas a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, but these levels have come down below the pandemic figures in
rural areas, while the UER ‘15-19 year’ bracket was higher than before in urban areas
(figure 33 and 34). Though lower than national average, UER at the level of ‘Graduate
& above’ remains higher than other education level brackets, even though it has
decreased by over 7% in the last year.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 23 of 82
6. Haryana
Figure 36: Haryana Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 37: Haryana Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
1,00,000
1,20,000
1,40,000
1,60,000
1,80,000
2,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 24 of 82
Figure 38: Haryana Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 39: Haryana Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
02468
10121416182022242628303234363840424446485052545658606264666870727476788082848688
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
02468
101214161820222426283032343638404244464850525456586062646668707274767880828486889092
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 25 of 82
Figure 40: Haryana Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 41: Haryana Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 26 of 82
Figure 42: Haryana - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Haryana’srural UER peaked at 41.61% in May 2020 (figure 36), nearly double
national average at the time at 22.89%. An increase in MGNREGA employment,
which saw a marked increase post Aril, was crucial in bringing down rural UER to
17.62% in June 2020. Rural UE though at nearly pre-Covid levels, continues to remain
significantly higher than the national average with a 29.62% rural UER in February
2021.Rural LPR was 2% below the previous year. Rural female LPR was less than a
tenth of male LPR at 6.54% in February 2021, along with a striking 77% female UER
at the time (figure 38).
Similar to rural areas, urban UER has generally been high even pre-Covid,
hovering over20%, with a peak of 46.89% seen in April 2020 (figure 37), nearly
double the national average of 24.95% at the time. Though still more than double the
national average, urban UER has come down 3% below pre-Covid levels in the
backdrop of labour force shrinking by 5% compared to last year. A similar gap in to
rural male and female LPR was seen in the urban areas, with female LPR at 6.56% in
February 2021 compared to 61.25% male LPR (figure 39), along with 63% female
UER at the time. Extremely low female LPR in both rural as well as urban areas
indicate the potential of economic improvements both at the state and the household
levels if concerted efforts are made in this direction.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24 years’, with UER in ‘15-
19 years’ bracket higher than pre-Covid levels (figure 40 and 41). Like rest of the
country, UER at the education level of graduates and matriculationwas higher than
other education levels, at 32.44% and 28.9% respectively in February 2021.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 27 of 82
7. Jharkhand
Figure 43: Jharkhand Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 44: Jharkhand Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
50,000
1,00,000
1,50,000
2,00,000
2,50,000
3,00,000
3,50,000
4,00,000
4,50,000
5,00,000
5,50,000
6,00,000
6,50,000
7,00,000
7,50,000
8,00,000
8,50,000
9,00,000
9,50,000
10,00,000
10,50,000
11,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 28 of 82
Figure 45: Jharkhand Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 46: Jharkhand Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
02468
101214161820222426283032343638404244464850525456586062646668707274767880828486889092949698
100102104106
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
02468
101214161820222426283032343638404244464850525456586062646668707274767880828486889092
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 29 of 82
Figure 47: Jharkhand Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 48: Jharkhand Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 30 of 82
Figure 49: Jharkhand - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Jharkhand’s rural UER peaked at 55% in May 2020 (figure 43), more than
double national average of 21.1% at the time. Effective use of MGNREGA, which saw
a marked increase in May-June 2020 contributed to decrease in rural UER to 7.79% in
September 2020. Rural UE in the state has come down nearly to pre-Covid levels with
a 10.82% rural UER in February 2021with a marginally lower LPR. Similar to pre-
Covid period, female LPR in rural areas was almost negligible at 1.85% in February
2021and a fraction of male LPR at 75.25% at the time (figure 45).
Urban UER also peakedat70.17% in May 2020 (figure 44), more than thrice the
national average of 23% at the time. Urban UER has stabilised to pre-Covid levels, but
the LPR has shrunk by over 4% compared to the previous year. Similar to rural areas,
female LPRwas negligible at 2.13% in February 2021, a 2% decrease compared to the
previous year (figure 46). Insignificant female LPR in both rural as well as urban areas
indicate the potential of economic improvements both at the state and the household
levels if concerted efforts are made in this direction.
There was a very high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban
areas, especially in the age bracket of ‘19-24 years’ (figure 47 and 48). UER at the
education level of graduationand matriculation continues to remain high with their
UER at 26.88% and 17.39% in February 2021 (figure 49).
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 31 of 82
8. Karnataka
Figure 50: Karnataka Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 51: Karnataka Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
50,000
1,00,000
1,50,000
2,00,000
2,50,000
3,00,000
3,50,000
4,00,000
4,50,000
5,00,000
5,50,000
6,00,000
6,50,000
7,00,000
7,50,000
8,00,000
8,50,000
9,00,000
9,50,000
10,00,000
10,50,000
11,00,000
11,50,000
12,00,000
12,50,000
13,00,000
13,50,000
14,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 32 of 82
Figure 52: Karnataka Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 53: Karnataka Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 33 of 82
Figure 54: Karnataka Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 55: Karnataka Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 34 of 82
Figure 56: Karnataka - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Karnataka’s rural UER peaked at 33.17% in May 2020 (figure 50). A subsequent
increase in MGNREGA employment contributed in rural UER decreasing significantly
to 4.61% in July 2020. Rural UERwas at 2.53% in February 2021, lower than 4.11%in
February 2020, and in the backdrop of marginally higher rural LPR. Rural female LPR
at 16.93 %, though higher than national average and 7% higher than previous year, was
still a quarter of rural male LPR in February 2021 (figure 52).
A peak of 25.12% urban UER was seen in April 2020, nearly the same as
national average at the time (figure 51). Urban UER has stabilised at pre-Covid levels
at 2.45% in February 2021, far below the national average, though this was coupled
with a nearly 3% fall in LPR compared to the previous year. Female LPR in urban
areas at 3.84% in February 2021wassignificantly lower than the rural areas, and a
fraction of urban male LPR at 63% at the time (figure 53).
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, especially in the age bracket of ‘15-24 years’, with the UER
‘15-19 year’ bracket higher than pre-Covid(figure 54 and 55). Though far lower than
national average, UER at the level of ‘Graduate & above’ at 8.36% in February 2021,
remains higher than other education level brackets.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 35 of 82
9. Kerala
Figure 57: Kerala Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 58: Kerala Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
30,00,000
35,00,000
40,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment RateState Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 36 of 82
Figure 59: Kerala Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 60: Kerala Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 37 of 82
Figure 61: Kerala Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 62: Kerala Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 38 of 82
Figure 63: Kerala - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Kerala’s rural UER peaked at 15% in May 2020 (figure 57), though below
national average of 21.1% at the time. Rural UE in the state has come down below pre-
Covid levels with a 4.43% rural UER in February 2021, though this was accompanied
by rural LPR shrinking by 4% in the same period. Rural female LPR at 6.18% in
February 2021, was less than a tenth of the male LPR at the time, and was also nearly
4% lower than the previous year(figure 59).
Urban UER also peaked in May 2020 at 21.54%, marginally below national
average at the time (figure 58). Urban UER has stabilised at marginally below pre-
Covid levels at 4.16% in February 2021, although in the backdrop of urban LPR
shrinking by nearly 3% compared to previous year. Like in rural areas, there was wide
gap between male and female LPR, at 6.57% and 59.95% respectively in February
2021 (figure 60). Low female LPR in both rural as well as urban areas indicate the
potential of economic improvements both at the state and the household levels if
concerted efforts are made in this direction.
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24
years’, with these rates being higher than pre-pandemic levels in urban areas (figure 61
and 62). UER at the level of ‘Graduate & above’ remains higher than other education
level brackets (figure 63).
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 39 of 82
10. Madhya Pradesh
Figure 64: Madhya Pradesh Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 65: Madhya Pradesh Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
2,00,000
4,00,000
6,00,000
8,00,000
10,00,000
12,00,000
14,00,000
16,00,000
18,00,000
20,00,000
22,00,000
24,00,000
26,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 40 of 82
Figure 66: Madhya Pradesh Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 67: Madhya Pradesh Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 41 of 82
Figure 68: Madhya Pradesh Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 69: Madhya Pradesh Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 42 of 82
Figure 70: Madhya Pradesh - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Madhya Pradesh’s rural UER peaked at 22.41% in May 2020 (figure 64),
marginally above national average of 21.1% at the time. Rural UER at 1.47% in
February 2021was less than half of the pre-Covid levels in the previous year, though
this was accompanied by rural LPR shrinking by over 2% in the same period. Rural
female LPR has generally been low and was at 2.64% in February 2021, far below the
rural male LPR at 65.59% at the time (figure 66).
Urban UER also peaked in May 2020 at 20.89%, although below national
average at the time (figure 65). Urban UER has stabilised at marginally below pre-
Covid levels at 3.52% in February 2021, with a relatively similar urban LPR
levelcompared to previous year. Like in rural areas, there was wide gap between male
and female LPR (figure 67). Low female LPR in both rural as well as urban areas
indicate the potential of economic improvements both at the state and the household
levels if concerted efforts are made in this direction.
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24
years’, with UER being higher than pre-pandemic levels for ‘15-19 years’ bracket
(figure 68 and 69). UER at the level of ‘Graduate & above’, though lower than national
average, remains higher than other education level brackets (figure 70).
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 43 of 82
11. Maharashtra
Figure 71: Maharashtra Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 72: Maharashtra Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
50,000
1,00,000
1,50,000
2,00,000
2,50,000
3,00,000
3,50,000
4,00,000
4,50,000
5,00,000
5,50,000
6,00,000
6,50,000
7,00,000
7,50,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 44 of 82
Figure73: Maharashtra Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 74: Maharashtra Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 45 of 82
Figure 75: Maharashtra Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 76: Maharashtra Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 46 of 82
Figure 77: Maharashtra - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Maharashtra’s rural UER peaked at 25.28% in April 2020, higher than the
national average at 22.89% at the time (figure 71). A significant increase in
MGNREGA employment from May 2020 contributed in rural UER decreasing
significantly to 3.16% in July 2020. Rural UER has stabilised at pre-Covid levels and
was at 3.23% in February 2021, with a similar rural LPR to the previous year. Rural
female LPR at 29.38 % in February 2021, though significantly higher than national
average, was still less than half of rural male LPR at 68.79% February 2021 (figure
73).
A peak of 15.15% urban UER was seen in May 2020, lower than national
average at23.14% at the time (figure 72). Urban UER has stabilised at pre-Covid levels
at 4.77% in February 2021, though with marginally lower LPR compared to the
previous year. Female LPR in urban areas at 9.73% in February 2021was significantly
lower than the rural areas, and nearly a sixth of urban male LPR at 60.65% at the time
(figure 74).
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, especially in the age bracket of ‘15-24 years’, though it was
lower than the pre-pandemic figures (figure 75 and 76). UER at the level of ‘Graduate
& above’ remains higher than other education level brackets at 15.53% in February
2021.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 47 of 82
12. Odisha
Figure 78: Odisha Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 79: Odisha Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
050,0001,00,0001,50,0002,00,0002,50,0003,00,0003,50,0004,00,0004,50,0005,00,0005,50,0006,00,0006,50,0007,00,0007,50,0008,00,0008,50,0009,00,0009,50,00010,00,00010,50,00011,00,00011,50,00012,00,00012,50,00013,00,00013,50,00014,00,00014,50,00015,00,00015,50,00016,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 48 of 82
Figure 80: Odisha Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 81: Odisha Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 49 of 82
Figure 82: Odisha Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 83: Odisha Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 50 of 82
Figure 84: Odisha - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Odisha’s rural UER peaked at 24.48% in April 2020 (figure 78), marginally
higher than the national average of 22.89% at the time. A subsequent significant
increase in MGNREGA employment contributed in rural UER decreasing significantly
to 4.22% in June 2020. Rural UER was at 2.33% in February 2021, lower than pre-
Covid 3.31% in February 2020, though in the backdrop of marginally lower rural LPR.
Rural female LPR at 4.63% in February 2021 was a fraction of rural male LPR at 72%
at the time (figure 80).
Urban UER also peaked in April 2020 at 20.5%, below national average at the
time (figure 79). Urban UER has stabilised at nearly pre-Covid levels at 3.12% in
February 2021, although in the backdrop of urban LPR shrinking by nearly 3%
compared to previous year. Like in rural areas, there was wide gap between male and
female LPR, at 5% and 63.78% respectively in February 2021 (figure 81). Low female
LPR in both rural as well as urban areas indicate the potential of economic
improvements both at the state and the household levels if concerted efforts are made
in this direction.
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24
years’, with these rates being lower than pre-pandemic levels in urban areas (figure 82
and 83). UER at the level of ‘Graduate & above’ though lower than national average,
remains higher than other education level brackets (figure 84).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 51 of 82
13. Punjab
Figure 85: Punjab Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 86: Punjab Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
50,000
1,00,000
1,50,000
2,00,000
2,50,000
3,00,000
3,50,000
4,00,000
4,50,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 52 of 82
Figure 87: Punjab Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 88: Punjab Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 53 of 82
Figure 89: Punjab Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 90: Punjab Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 54 of 82
Figure 91: Punjab- Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Punjab’s rural UER peaked at 34% in May 2020 (figure 85), higher than the
national average of 21.1% at the time. Effective use of MGNREGA, which saw a
marked increase in May-June 2020 contributed to decrease in rural UER to 9.78% in
August 2020. Rural UE in the state has come down marginally below pre-Covid levels
with a 8.36% rural UER in February 2021, but the rural LPR has shrunk by over 7%
compared to the previous year. Female LPR in rural areas was almost negligible at
3.08% in February 2021, over 5% lower than the previous year, and a fraction of male
LPR at 72.25% at the time (figure 87).
Urban UER also peaked at 17.47% in May 2020 (figure 86), though lower than
the national average of 23.14% at the time. Urban UER was at 4.81%in February 2021
less than half the urban UER in February 2020, though the urban LPR has shrunk by
over 8% compared to the previous year. Similar to rural areas, female LPR was
negligible at 2.41% in February 2021, a 5% decrease compared to the previous year
(figure 88). Insignificant female LPR in both rural as well as urban areas indicate the
potential of economic improvements both at the state and the household levels if
concerted efforts are made in this direction.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
especially in the age bracket of ‘15-24 years’ in rural areas and ’25-29 years’ bracket
in urban areas, which has increased post the pandemic (figure 89 and 90). UE at the
education level of graduation continues to remain high with their UER at 15.82% in
February 2021 (figure 91).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 55 of 82
14. Rajasthan
Figure 92: Rajasthan Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 93: Rajasthan Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
30,00,000
35,00,000
40,00,000
45,00,000
50,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 56 of 82
Figure 94: Rajasthan Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 95: Rajasthan Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
02468
101214161820222426283032343638404244464850525456586062646668707274767880828486889092
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 57 of 82
Figure 96: Rajasthan Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 97: Rajasthan Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 58 of 82
Figure 98: Rajasthan- Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Rajasthan’srural UER peaked at 27.74% in December 2020 (figure 92), nearly
thrice the national average at the time at 9.15%. Rural UER was at 25.61% in February
2021, over 11% higher than the pre-Covid levels in February 2020, and over thrice the
national average. Rural LPR though was over5% higher than the previous year. Rural
female LPR was less than a seventh of male LPR in February 2021, at 9% and 76%
respectively, along with a striking 74.23% female UER at the time (figure 94).
Similar to rural, urban UER has generally been high even pre-Covid, hovering
over 15%, with a peak of 35.53% seen in April 2020 (figure 93), significantly higher
than the national average of 24.95% at the time. Urban UER still was at 25.59% in
February 2021, more than thrice the national average at the time, though LPR has
expanded by over 2% compared to last year. A similar gap to rural male and female
LPR was seen in the urban areas, with female LPR at 8.48% in February 2021
compared to 71.63% male LPR (figure 95), along with an appalling89.18% female
UER at the time. Low female LPR in both rural as well as urban areas indicate the
potential of economic improvements both at the state and the household levels if
concerted efforts are made in this direction.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24 years’, these rates being
even higher than pre-Covid levels (figure 96 and 97). There was also an increase in
UER in urban areas of those over 65 years. UER at the education level of graduates
and matriculation seems to be a major challenge with their UER at 59.25% and 34.4%
respectively in February 2021.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 59 of 82
15. Tamil Nadu
Figure 99: Tamil Nadu Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 100: Tamil Nadu Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
30,00,000
35,00,000
40,00,000
45,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 60 of 82
Figure 101: Tamil Nadu Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 102: Tamil Nadu Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 61 of 82
Figure 103: Tamil Nadu Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 104: Tamil Nadu Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 62 of 82
Figure 105: Tamil Nadu - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Tamil Nadu’s rural UER peaked at 53.19% in April 2020, more than double the
national average at 22.19% at the time (figure 99). A subsequent drastic increase in
MGNREGA employment contributed in rural UER decreasing significantly to 4.53%
in July 2020. Rural UER was at 2.7% in February 2021, marginally higher than
1.17%in February 2020, coupled with a significant decrease in rural LPR by around
8%. Rural female LPR at 10% is less than a sixth of male LPR in February 2021, and
7% lower than the previous year (figure 101).
A similar peak of 45.55% urban UER was seen in April 2020, significantly
higher than national average at the time (figure 100). Urban UER, though similar to
national average7.27% in February 2021 is more than double that of previous year.
This was coupled with a nearly 3% fall in LPR compared to the previous year. Female
LPR in urban areas at 6.36% in February 2021was lower than in rural areas, and a
fraction of urban male LPR at 60.56% at the time (figure 102).
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, especially in the age bracket of ’20-24 years’ (figure 103 and
104). UER at the level of ‘Graduate & above’ at 16.78% in February 2021, continues
to remain higher than other education level brackets.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 63 of 82
16. Telangana
Figure 106: Telangana Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 107: Telangana Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 64 of 82
Figure 108: Telangana Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 109: Telangana Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 65 of 82
Figure 110: Telangana Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 111: Telangana Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 66 of 82
Figure 112: Telangana - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Telangana’s rural UER peaked at 12% in June 2020, higher than the national
average of 9.49% at the time (figure 106). Rural UER was at 6.12% in February 2021,
lower than 9.02%in February 2020, though this was accompanied by rural LPR
shrinking by nearly 4%. Rural female LPR at an impressive 60.09% in February 2021
is amongst the highest in India, only less than 4% below the rural male LPR in the
corresponding period (figure 108).
A peak of 21.4% urban UER was seen in May2020, marginally below national
average of 23.14% at the time (figure 107). Urban UER at 4.71% in February 2021 has
stabilised at below the pre-Covid levels, though this was in the backdrop ofaover5%
fall in LPR compared to the previous year. Female LPR in urban areas at 7.56% in
February 2021was significantly lower than the rural areas, and a fraction of urban male
LPR at 67% at the time (figure 109).
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
especially in the age bracket of ‘20-24 years’, though this level is below than pre-
Covid levels in urban areas (figure 110 and 111). Rural areas saw an increase in UER
of those over 65 years of age. Though far lower than national average, UER at the level
of ‘Graduate & above’ at 8.36% in February 2021, remains higher than other education
level brackets. UER at the education level of ‘Graduation & above’ seems to be a
major challenge with their UER at 29.95% in February 2021, significantly higher than
other educational levels.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 67 of 82
17. Uttar Pradesh
Figure 113: Uttar Pradesh Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 114: Uttar Pradesh Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
30,00,000
35,00,000
40,00,000
45,00,000
50,00,000
55,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 68 of 82
Figure 115: Uttar Pradesh Rural - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 116: Uttar Pradesh Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
66
68
70
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 69 of 82
Figure 117: Uttar Pradesh Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 118: Uttar Pradesh Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 70 of 82
Figure 119: Uttar Pradesh - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Uttar Pradesh’s rural UER peaked at 19.92% in April 2020, lower than the
national average of 22.89% at the time (figure 113). Effective use of MGNREGA,
which saw a marked increase in May 2020 contributed to decrease in rural UER to
4.39% in July 2020. Rural UE in the state has come down to less than half of pre-
Covid levels with a 3.75% rural UER in February 2021 compared to 8.12% in
February 2020, but the rural LPR has shrunk by around3% compared to the previous
year. Female LPR in rural areas was quite low at 2.18% in February 2021, a fraction of
male LPR at 65.88% at the time (figure 115).
Urban UER peaked at 30.55% in May 2020,higher than the national average of
23.14% at the time (figure 114). Urban UER was at 5.57%in February 2021 less than
half the urban UER in February 2020, though the urban LPR has shrunk by over 5% in
the same period. Similar to rural areas, female LPR was low at 3.01% in February
2021, an over 3% decrease compared to the previous year (figure 116). Low female
LPR in both rural as well as urban areas indicate the potential of economic
improvements both at the state and the household levels if concerted efforts are made
in this direction.
There was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as well as urban areas,
especially in the age bracket of ‘15-24 years’, and the UER in the ’15-19 years’ bracket
has increased post the pandemic in rural areas (figure 117 and 118). UER at the level
of ‘Graduate & above’ at 15.53% in February 2021, continues to remain higher than
other education level brackets (figure 119).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 71 of 82
18. West Bengal
Figure 120: West Bengal Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 121: West Bengal Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5,00,000
10,00,000
15,00,000
20,00,000
25,00,000
30,00,000
35,00,000
40,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in State) India Rural Unemployment Rate
State Rural Unemployment Rate State Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate State Urban Unemployment Rtae State Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 72 of 82
Figure 122: West Bengal - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 123: West Bengal Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 73 of 82
Figure 124: West Bengal Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 125: West Bengal Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Mar-19 Jun-19 Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 74 of 82
Figure 126: West Bengal - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
West Bengal’s rural UER peaked at 18.43% in May 2020, below national
average of 21.1% at the time (figure 120). Rural UE in the state has come down to
6.35% in February 2021, though still higher than 3.78% in February 2020,
accompanied by nearly same LPR compared to the previous year. Rural female LPR at
17.1% in February 2021, though higher than national average, was less than a fifth of
male LPR at the time (figure 122).
Urban UER also peaked in August 2020 at 18.66%, nearly double the national
average at the time (figure 121). Urban UER has stabilised at below pre-Covid levels
at 5.9% in February 2021, although with a marginallylower LPR compared to previous
year. Female LPR in urban areas at 9.85% in February 2021was lower than the rural
areas, and less than a seventh of urban male LPR at 73.74% at the time (figure 123).
Like the rest of the country, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural
as well as urban areas, with especially high rates in the age brackets between ‘15-24
years’, with UER in rural areas for ‘15-19 years’ being significantly higher than pre-
pandemic figures (figure 124 and 125). UER at the education level of graduates and
matriculation was higher than other education levels, at 13.18% and 11.69%
respectively in February 2021(figure 126).
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
Page 75 of 82
IV. ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL FIGURES
Figure 127: India Rural
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 128: India Urban
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
25,00,000
50,00,000
75,00,000
1,00,00,000
1,25,00,000
1,50,00,000
1,75,00,000
2,00,00,000
2,25,00,000
2,50,00,000
2,75,00,000
3,00,00,000
3,25,00,000
3,50,00,000
3,75,00,000
4,00,00,000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
MGNREGA (Households Employed in India) India Rural Unemployment Rate India Rural Labour Participation Rate
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
India Urban Unemployment Rate India Urban Labour Participation Rate
Page 76 of 82
Figure 129: India - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 130: India Urban - Gender Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42
44
46
48
50
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-21
Male Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Female Labor Participation Rate(LPR) Male Unemployment Rate(UR) Female Unemployment Rate(UR)
UR
LPR
Page 77 of 82
Figure 131: India Rural - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 132: India Urban - Age Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-2
0
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-2
1
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-1
9
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-2
0
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-2
0
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-2
1
Unemployment Rate All ages Unemployment Rate 15-19 years Unemployment Rate 20-24 years Unemployment Rate 25-29 years
Unemployment Rate 30-34 years Unemployment Rate 35-39 years Unemployment Rate 40-44 years Unemployment Rate 45-49 years
Unemployment Rate 50-54 years Unemployment Rate 55-59 years Unemployment Rate 60-64 years Unemployment Rate >=65 years
Page 78 of 82
Figure 133: India - Education Level Wise
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
Figure 134- India Employment by Major Sectors/Industry
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Mar-1
9
Apr-19
May-
19
Jun-1
9
Jul-1
9
Aug-19
Sep-1
9
Oct-1
9
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-2
0
Feb-
20
Mar-2
0
Apr-20
May-
20
Jun-2
0
Jul-2
0
Aug-20
Sep-2
0
Oct-2
0
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-2
1
Feb-
21
Unemployment Rate - All educational levels Unemployment Rate - No education Unemployment Rate - Upto class V
Unemployment Rate - Class VI-IX Unemployment Rate - Class X-XII Unemployment Rate - Graduate & above
0
2,00,00,000
4,00,00,000
6,00,00,000
8,00,00,000
10,00,00,000
12,00,00,000
14,00,00,000
16,00,00,000
18,00,00,000
Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21
Industry - Mining Industry - Manufacturing Industry - Utilities
Industry - Real Estate & Construction Agriculture Services
Page 79 of 82
India’s rural UER peaked at 22.89% in April 2020 (figure 127). A subsequent
increase in MGNREGA employment contributed in rural UER decreasing significantly
to 6.51% in July 2020. Rural UER has stabilised at 6.86% in February 2021, has
stabilised at a marginally lower figure than 8.44% in February 2020. This has been
coupled with a marginal decrease in rural LPR from 43.67% in February 2020 to
42.16% in February 2021. Rural female LPR at 10.89% in February 2021 is less than a
sixth of male LPR at 69.43%, though similar to the pre-pandemic figure of last year.
Rural male LPR in the same period has decreased by around 3%. In rural areas, female
UER has generally been higher than male UER, and at 10.92% in February 2021
continues to be 4% higher than male UER at the time (figure 129).
A similar peak of 24.95% urban UER was seen in April 2020 (figure 128).
Urban UER was at 6.99% in February 2021, lower figure than 8.65% in February
2020. This has been coupled with urban LPR shrinking by over 3%, from 40.48% in
February 2020 to 37.25% in February 2021. Urban female LPR at 6.56% in February
2021 is less than in in rural areas, and significantly lower than male LPR at 64.64%,
and also over 3% lower than the pre-pandemic figure of last year. Rural male LPR in
the same period has decreased by around 3%. In urban areas too, female UER has
generally been higher than male UER, and at 10.92% in February 2021 continues to be
11% higher than male UER at the time (figure 130).
Similar to pre-pandemic, there was a high incidence of youth UE in both rural as
well as urban areas, significantly higher in the age brackets of ‘15-24 years’ (figure
131 and 132). UER at the education level of graduation and matriculation continues to
remain higher than at other educational levels. UER of ‘Graduate & above’ 23.8% in
February 2021 is around 5% higher than the corresponding figure in the previous year
and UER of 8.81% of ‘Class X-XII’ is over 6% lower than the corresponding figure in
the previous year.
In terms of sectors, employment in agriculture has increased from 142.5 million
in February 2020 to 151.3 million in February 2021. Though in the employment in the
service sector saw a decrease from 159.5 million to 147.3 million. Industries sector
has also seen a marginal decrease from 103.5 million in February 2020 to 100 million
in February 2021. Employment though in ‘Real estate and construction’(industry) has
expanded from 62.8 million to 66.7million in the last year, though coupled with a
contraction in employment in ‘Manufacturing’(industry) from 37.7 million to 30.6
million.
Page 80 of 82
V. LOOKING INTO THE CMIE NUMBERS
Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy has been a long-standing body
consistently producing statistics on the Indian economy. With CMIE itself calling it
‘leading business information company’3 and the main clientele being business firms,
the focus is largely on gathering consumer data focussing on urban regions.CPHS, is a
comprehensive survey monitoring various aspects like spending and saving
behaviours, with unemployment only a part of it. For CPHS, of the annual sample size
of 1676,661 households. Of this, over 113,231 (64%) are urban households and 63,430
(35%) are rural households. CMIE has a larger urban sample despite a lower
proportion of the population residing there.
NSSO on the other hand has 55% rural Households and 45% urban households
for its PLFS survey. NSSO’s PLFS unlike the CMIE’s CPHS has employment as its
only focus. There is also a stark difference in employment numbers, both the actual
figures and trends of both the survey results.
Table 1: Comparison of Unemployment rates of surveys of NSSO and CMIE 2017-18 2018-19 2017-18 2018-19
NSSO PLFS (UER) CMIE CPHS (UER)
ALL INDIA 6.1% 5.8% 4.6% 6.25%
ALL INDIA - MALE 6.2% 6.0% 3.73% 5.1%
ALL INDIA - FEMALE 5.7% 5.2% 11.23% 14.57%
URBAN 7.8% 7.7% 5.16% 6.85%
URBAN - MALE 7.1% 7.1% 3.9% 5.25%
URBAN - FEMALE 10.8% 9.9% 13.77% 18.66%
RURAL 5.3% 5.0% 4.47% 5.96%
RURAL - MALE 5.8% 5.6% 3.65% 5.03%
RURAL - FEMALE 3.8% 3.5% 10.04% 12.65%
As is evident from the table, there is a serious mismatch in both the quantum and
trend of survey results. As per PLFS, UER in the country came down from 6.1% in
2017-18 to 5.8% in 2018-19, whereas CPHS shows an increase from 4.6% in 2017-18
to 6.25% in 2018-19. This gap gets even wider when looking into other sub-
classifications. For instance, as per PLFS urban female UER came down from 10.8%
in 2017-18 to 9.9% in 2018-19, whereas CPHS shows an increase from 13.77% in
2017-18 to 18.66% in 2018-19. Even if the different definitions of employment by
CMIE and NSSO is considered wherein CMIE only considers substantive
employment, it still doesn’t explain the variation in the overall trend.
3https://www.cmie.com/kommon/bin/sr.php?kall=wapps&tabno=7030&page=about_us#:~:text=CMIE%2C%20or%20Centre%20for%20Monitoring,as%20an%20independent%20think%20tank.
Page 81 of 82
CMIE has had the same sample since 2016 which the surveyors keep revisiting.
While having this fixed sample helped it execute the survey over the course of the
pandemic. While a serious drawback is that a fixed sample becomes non-representative
of the population over a period of time and CMIE has had it over the last 4 years.
A data set representing a large population like India is dependable if it gives
reliable and consistent data of the sub-classifications. This is where you find gaps in
the CPHS data. While looking at individual states and sub-categories like age, there is
incomprehensible month on month and quarter on quarter variation in most age-related
data sets. For instance, in rural Telangana, in ‘15-19 age group’ UER goes from 50%
in December 2019 to 100% in March 2020 and going down to 0% in April 2020. In
most of the cases in the age brackets over 40 years, there is 0% unemployment.
While this is just an instance, such aberrations are seen in every age-wise data
set of every state. This is the case for all employment related figures stratified on other
classifications. In rural Telangana, female LPR went from 68% in November 2020 to
26.77% in December 2020 and jumped back to 59.3% in January 2021. Given the
larger data set is a compilation of subsets, it raises pertinent questions on the reliability
of the overall CMIE CPHS employment figures. It is also important to note that CMIE
does not reveal the confidence interval and standard error of their data.
Figure 135 - Haryana Rural Unemployment Figures
Source: CMIE CPHS Survey
As seen from Figure 135, there is inexplicable month on month variations in
UER in rural Haryana, not explained by seasonality or any externality. For instance,
UER rises from 16.22% in July 2019 to nearly double at 30.94% in the subsequent
month, before coming down to 16.29% in September 2019.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
May
-18
Jun
-18
Jul-
18
Au
g-18
Sep-
18
Oct
-18
Nov
-18
Dec
-18
Jan-
19
Feb-
19
Mar
-19
Ap
r-19
May
-19
Jun
-19
Jul-
19
Au
g-19
Sep-
19
Oct
-19
Nov
-19
Dec
-19
Jan-
20
Feb-
20
Mar
-20
Ap
r-20
May
-20
Jun
-20
Jul-
20
Au
g-20
Sep-
20
Oct
-20
Nov
-20
Dec
-20
Jan-
21
Feb-
21
State Rural Unemployment Rate
Page 82 of 82
VI. CONCLUSION
The analysis shows that how crucial it is to look into data closely, especially
from a policy perspective. India is a vast country where figures vary vastly going from
one state to another, urban to rural, male to female, one age group to another, and other
such sub-classifications. National figures unwittingly mask more than what they
reveal.
Even though UER for rural India is 6.86% in February 2021, the corresponding
rate for Assam is 1.52% and for Rajasthan is 25.61%. This is the same case when we
look at other figures like LPR classified on either of gender, state, region, age group,
educational qualification, or an intersection of these.
What is evident is that while UER has largely come down to pre-pandemic
figures, it has come in the backdrop of reduced labour participation. Low female
labour force participation and youth unemployment continue to be challenges that the
country was facing prior to the pandemic.
While pertinent questions have been raised over the reliability of CMIE
employment data, it continues to be the only consistent data set that we have since the
pandemic began.
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