Huge spike in Delhi’s unemployed, women worst affected, says survey

The rate of unemployment in Delhi six months post-pandemic, spiked to 28.5 per cent in October-November 2020 as compared with 11.1 per cent in January-February, according to a Delhi government-commissioned survey, reported by The Indian Express.

The survey observed that 89 per cent of the unemployed respondents, out of which 56 per cent are jobless for over six months, continue to look for work, necessitating a “job guarantee scheme to revive the economy of the city”.

Over 30 per cent of the people seeking job said they were unable to find work due to economic slump, whereas 29.3 per cent said it was due to “closure of business”.

Among those who were employed, 7 per cent were earning less than Rs 5000 a month in January-February, reported Indian Express.

The worst finding of the survey is the number of women participation in the total workforce and high number of graduates and post- graduates among the jobless.

The sample size of the survey was 44,226 of which 32,052 people were aged 15 and above.

Among women, the unemployment rate was 25.6 per cent even before COVID against 8.7 per cent for males. After COVID-19, female unemployment rate jumped to 54.7 per cent in October-November. Whereas in men, it increased to 23.2 per cent.

According to the report in The Indian Express, 83 per cent of women are out of the labour force, whereas 31.6 per cent in case of men are jobless. Among 83 per cent of unemployed women and unavailable for work, 16.6 per cent hold graduate degrees, 27.6 per cent have cleared Class 12 and 23.8 per cent have studied till Class 10.

“However, 83.1% female respondents were out of labour force, while the female labour force participation rate (LFPR) was 16.9%, female work force participation rate (WPR) was 7.6% and the female unemployment rate (UR) was 54.7% during survey in October – November 2020,” the survey found.

The survey has recommended as a “follow up on this study to understand why more than 80% of women in Delhi are unavailable for work”. The survey report has been jointly prepared by the Delhi government and the Centre for Market Research and Social Development, reported Indian Express

Age-wise break up shows that unemployment is highest in the 15-25 age bracket. In this category, unemployment rate increased from 25.5 per cent to 28.2 per cent during the lockdown and from 8.8 per cent to 27.4 per cent among those aged above 60.

The Delhi Directorate of Economics and Statistics and the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission provided technical guidance on survey design, questionnaire development, validation and analysis of survey results, the report states.

“The percentage of reduction in employment in various top sectors were: specialised construction activities (43%), Food and beverage service activities (31%), Education (30%), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (25%), Services to buildings and landscape activities (25%), Information service activities (22%), Land transport and transport via pipelines (22%),” the report said.

It also refers to the jobs portal launched by the Delhi government to connect job-seekers and employers. It says of the total surveyed households, 27 per cent were aware of it, 3.6 per cent had already registered themselves on it.