Kerala Topped Unemployment Rate; Delhi Recorded Lowest for Q4 FY24: PLFS Survey

Current Context: The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for Q4 FY24 (January-March, 2024) revealed that Kerala had the highest youth unemployment rate among the 15-29 age group at 31.8%, while Delhi registered the lowest at 3.1%.

Here are some key findings from the survey:

• The overall unemployment rate for the 15-29 age group increased from 16.5% (October-December, 2023) to 17% (January-March, 2024). However, it is slightly lower compared to 17.3% for January-March, 2023.
• The unemployment rate for all age groups increased marginally from 6.5% for Q3 FY24 to 6.7% for Q4 FY24. It is slightly below the 6.8% for Q4 FY23.
• Other states with high youth unemployment rates for Q4 FY24 included Jammu & Kashmir (28.2%), Telangana (26.1%), Rajasthan (24%), and Odisha (23.3%).
• States with the lowest unemployment rates for the same period were Delhi (3.1%), Gujarat (9%), Karnataka (11.5%), and Madhya Pradesh (12.1%).

The survey also highlighted the gender disparity in unemployment rates:

• For women, the highest unemployment rate was in Jammu & Kashmir (48.6%), followed by Kerala (46.6%), Uttarakhand (39.4%), Telangana (38.4%), and Himachal Pradesh (35.9%). Delhi recorded the lowest unemployment rate for women at 5.7%.
• For men, the highest unemployment rate was in Kerala (24.3%), followed by Bihar (21.2%), Odisha (20.6%), Rajasthan (20.6%), and Chhattisgarh (19.6%). The lowest male unemployment rate was in Delhi (2.5%).

Question:

1. Which state had the highest youth unemployment rate among the 15-29 age group in Q4 FY24 according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?

• A) Delhi
• B) Jammu & Kashmir
• C) Kerala
• D) Rajasthan

Answer: C) The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for Q4 FY24 (January-March, 2024) revealed that Kerala had the highest youth unemployment rate among the 15-29 age group at 31.8%, while Delhi registered the lowest at 3.1%.