India’s jobless rate at 4-month low in July

The unemployment rate in the country fell to 6.95% in July – the lowest in four months, an indication of possible recovery in the labour market.

Data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) showed that the rate has been rising since March’s 6.5%. It rose to 7.97% in April and spiked to 11.9% in May before falling to 9.17% in June.  

CMIE managing director & CEO Mahesh Vyas said, “The July data suggests a near-complete recovery. The labour participation rate, unemployment rate and employment rate have all bounced back to close to their March 2021 levels.” 

The rural unemployment rate dropped to 6.34% in July. It showed a similar trend with the overall rate – rising from 6.15% in March to 7.13% in April and further to 10.63% in May before easing to 8.75% in June. 

The urban unemployment rate also fell month-on-month to 8.3% in July, but was still higher than the 7.27% in March. The trend generally followed those of overall unemployment and rural unemployment rates, recording 9.78% in April, 14.73% in May and 10.07% in June.  

READ: World Bank supports India’s informal sector workers

May 2021 was one of four months since at least January 2016 when the overall monthly unemployment rate breached the double-digit mark. Last year, the nation-wide lockdown contributed to double-digit unemployment rates in April, May and June. 

In 2020, the overall unemployment rate peaked in April at 23.52%. It then started falling from May to 21.73% and 10.18% in June, according to Financial Express. 

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