India's unemployment rate stands at 6.1 per cent, highest in 45 years

According to an assessment by the National Sample Survey Office conducted between July 2017-June 2018, just months before the Lok Sabha Polls, India’s unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017-2018. The unemployment rate stands at 6.1 per cent, the highest since 1972-73.

The survey has become a huge political issue after the acting chairman and another member of the body that reviewed the job data figures, resigned stating that there was a delay in its release.

The head of the government-funded National Statistical Commission PC Mohanan says that he and colleague J Meenakshi were unhappy at the non-publication of jobs data that had been due for release in December and alleged interference by other state agencies over backdated GDP data.

The report shows that joblessness stood at 7.8 per cent in urban areas compared with 5.3 parts in the countryside.

India’s economy has been expanding by seven per cent plus annually, but the uneven growth has meant there are not enough jobs created for millions of young Indians entering the workforce each year.