By Sanjeev Kumar Patro
Bhubaneswar: HOPELESSNESS state of affairs for the youth population (15-29 years) in Odisha, who are out on the road in search of jobs or wage work. Because, out of 100 youths in the age group of 15-29 years joining the labour force in the State, as many as 28 couldn’t find any job, despite willing to work.
Such a dismal scenario in the job market in Odisha has been zoomed by the Union Government’s quarterly Period Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted during the period of April-June 2024. The survey is conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). This survey measures unemployment in the urban areas only.
As per the quarterly PLFS report, in youth unemployment, with 28 percent unemployment rate, Odisha holds on to the infamous numero one state in the country.
While the female unemployment rate in the State in the age group of 15-29 years have been estimated by the survey at 33.8%, the rate among the males in the age group stood high at 25.4 percent in the quarter ending Apr-Jun.
UNEMPLOYMENT RISING IN ODISHA
The worrisome trend to the fore is youth unemployment in the State has shown a steep rise vis-a-vis a year ago, i.e Apr-Jun 2023.
In Aprli –June 2023, the rate of youth unemployment in Odisha was 22.4%. In contrast, the rate in April – June 2024 has risen to a whopping 28 percent. The numbers show the rise has been very steep.
While female youth unemployment rate was up by nearly 3%, the male rate rise has been, rather, steep at 5%.
DID JOB LOSSES HAPPEN IN ODISHA?
The scenario is quite teasing here. While the quarterly PLFS survey clearly indicates towards job losses in Odisha for the male youth, female youth employment has seen a rise in the State during the last one year period. The survey hints at job loss of 3% for youth males between December 2023 and June 2024, on the contrary youth female hiring in Odisha was up by 5% during the same period.
HOW YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT TOPPED COUNTRY?
An analysis of the data released by the quarterly PLFS, 3% more youth male population have the joined the labour force searching job in the labour market. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among male youth was up at 54.3% in April –June 2024 compared to 51% in Apr-Jun 2023.
Job losses have been witnessed in the services sectors in the State.
MORE FEMALES COMING TO JOB MARKET IN ODISHA
The female seeking for jobs in Odisha has been very dismal over the years. The Apr-June 2024 survey has brought out a startling trend. The LFPR of females in the age group of 15-29 years in the State has jumped to a high of 27.4 percent from 18.3 percent a year ago.
ODISHA HAS TO CATCH UP WITH CHHATTISGARH
In Chattisgarh, the services sector absorbs nearly 75 percent youth. On the contrary, the services sector in Odisha could provide employment to only around 66 percent.
Despite industrial sector in Odisha employing 1 in every 3 workers, as compared to around 1 in every 3 workers in Chhattisgarh, the state of Chhattisgarh has a lower youth unemployment rate than Odisha.
