The unemployment rate in Punjab is more than the national average, reveals the state’s latest Economic Survey that was tabled in the just concluded Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha. The survey report belies the claims made by the Congress government of making efforts to reduce unemployment.

As per the report, the unemployment rate among the youth (between 15 and 29 years) of the state is 21.6 per cent against the national average of 17.8 per cent. The survey cites the figures, taking into account the first year of the Capt Amarinder Singh government in 2017-18. This in spite of the state organising job melas and launching schemes such Apni Gaddi Apna Rozgar (54,513 youths reportedly got jobs till 2019), Yaari Enterprises and StartUp Punjab.

The mismatch between the aspirations of the youth and job opportunities is the reason behind the high unemployment rate. Unemployment is more prevalent in rural areas and women. With heavy mechanisation of farming, rural youth may be finding it difficult to get jobs.

The unemployment rate among women reduced between 2015-16 and 2018, but it was still higher (11.7 per cent) than men’s (6.9 per cent).

The survey points out that unemployment rate in rural and urban areas was 7.6 and 7.7 per cent, which had increased by two to 1.5 percentage points, respectively, since the previous Economic Survey.