Unemployment rate in Delhi higher than national level: Report

The unemployment rate in Delhi showed a significant disparity, nearly doubling for females compared to the country’s average, as per a report released by the Delhi government.

The ‘Women & Men In Delhi-2023’ report highlighted that in 2021-22, the unemployment rate stood at 5.1 per cent for males and 6.0 per cent for females in Delhi, while at the national level, it was 4.4 per cent for males and 3.3 per cent for females.

In terms of employment categories, 33.1 per cent of working men in the city were self-employed, while 63 per cent were in regular wage/salaried positions, and 3.5 per cent were in casual labor.

Conversely, only 17 per cent of female workers were self-employed, with 83 per cent in regular wage/salaried positions, as per the report’s findings.

Breaking down the industries, 59.74 per cent of female workers were engaged in ‘other services,’ followed by ‘trade, hotel, and restaurant’ (14.73 per cent) and ‘manufacturing’ (14.19 per cent) in 2021-22.

For male workers, the majority (29.77 per cent) were involved in ‘trade, hotel & restaurant,’ followed by ‘manufacturing’ (24.02 per cent) and ‘other services’ (22.87 per cent) in Delhi.

The report disclosed that the city’s labor force participation rate was 57.5 per cent for males and 9.4 per cent for females in 2021-22, while at the national level, it stood at 57.3 per cent for males and 24.8 per cent for females.

Moreover, the report revealed that 89.42 per cent of females were categorised as ‘non-workers.’ Additionally, the 6th Economic Census of Delhi highlighted that 80.63 per cent of males and only 19.37 per cent of females were employed in agricultural establishments.

In the ‘Non-Agriculture Establishments’ sector, which excludes services like mining, manufacturing, and construction, 91.58 per cent of males and 8.42 per cent of females were engaged. Similarly, in the ‘non-agriculture establishments (services)’ sector, 85.33 per cent of males and 14.67 per cent of females were involved.

Overall, the report emphasised a substantial discrepancy in employment rates between men (87.52 per cent) and women (12.48 per cent). (With inputs from PTI)