Rajasthan’s unemployment rate at record high of 28.2%

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has left a bitter aftertaste for Rajasthan with the unemployment rate hitting a record high of 28%, the second highest in the country.

As per the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Rajasthan’s unemployment rate for December 2020 was 28.2%. Rajasthan is second after Haryana which has an unemployment rate of 32.5%.

Rajasthan’s unemployment is four times the national average. The national unemployment rate is 6.5% till January 30, 2021, as per the CMIE. The urban unemployment rate is 8.2% and the rural rate is 5.7%.

CMIE’s month-on-month data shows that Rajasthan’s unemployment rate is highest since January 2016. Before this, the rate touched a high of 24.1 percent in October 2020.

A major reason for the spike in the unemployment rate is the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdown which crippled the economy and led to massive losses in employment and livelihoods.

However, the BJP has hit out at the ruling Congress government for its failure to generate employment. State BJP president Satish Poonia said the government has not fulfilled promises that were made in the Congress manifesto.