Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 18 December 2023
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation unveiled the results of its Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted from July 2022 to June 2023. The report highlights Andaman and Nicobar Islands perched at the pinnacle for unemployment rates among graduates aged 15 and above during the survey period.
According to the NSSO’s findings, the unemployment rate among graduates within the 15+ age bracket in the archipelago stood alarmingly high at 33% between July 2022 to June 2023. This revelation marks a significant concern for the region’s workforce dynamics.
Delving deeper into the statistics outlined in the report, it’s revealed that the unemployment rates among different educational brackets within the 15+ population in Andaman and Nicobar Islands varied significantly. For instance, the unemployment rates are reported as follows:
– Non-literate individuals: 0%
– Literate up to primary level: 2.2%
– Middle school-educated: 3.0%
– Secondary school-educated: 7.6%
– Higher secondary school-educated: 13.2%
– Diploma/Certificate holders: 5.5%
– Graduates: 33%
– Post-graduate and above: 12.8%
– Overall unemployment rate across all educational qualifications: 9.7%
The NSSO’s survey further unveils that while Andaman and Nicobar Islands grappled with a staggering 33% unemployment rate among graduates aged 15 and above, the overall unemployment rate (15+ Age Group) across all educational qualifications in the region stood at 9.7%. This figure placed the islands second in the country for overall unemployment, trailing behind Lakshadweep, which reported an 11.1% unemployment rate across all qualifications.
The revelation from the NSSO survey underscores the pressing issue of unemployment among educated individuals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, signalling a need for targeted interventions and strategies to address this concerning trend. The substantial gap in unemployment rates across varying educational levels within the region further underscores the complexity of the issue and the necessity for tailored solutions.
Policymakers and Stakeholders should ponder over these statistics and address the unemployment conundrum among educated individuals.
(Find the PLFS Annual Report (July 2022 – June 2023 Below, See Page 141)