Unemployment has been the major problem during the recent global economic crisis as lakhs of people become jobless in the country. According the Economic Survey 2008-09, tabled in the Parliament today, number of jobless were huge in sectors like automobile, gems and jwellery , transport , export related units, textiles, food processing and other areas have faced a tough time in terms of jobs.

Though the survey report says that employment opportunities in the financial year 2008-09 have been affected by the global financial crisis and economic slowdown in the major markets of India but no comprehensive has data provided for it.

Reffering a survey report “Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India”, conducted by Ministry of Labour and Employment on a sample survey of 2581 units, the Survey says that during October-December 2008, there was decrease in employment of about half a million workers during during the period. Sectors like gems and jewellery, transport and automobiles were most affected by this trend. While employment in gems and jwellery has declined by 8.58 percent, 4.03 and 2.42 percent decline found in sectors like transport and automobile respectively. Another survey conducted by the ministry during December 2008 and January 2009 shows one lakh job loss during this period.

Apart from labour ministry a survey of 402 export units conducted by ministry of Commerce and industry also shows that 1.09 lakh people lost their jobs during August 2008 to January 2009. Two other surveys shows that the jobloss increased. During the period of August 2008 to February 2009 the joblosses were 1.17 lakh and 1.19 lakh respectively according to two surveys.

The survey though has not included sectors like aviation, media , real estate and construction, service and several other important sectors where number of job cuts were huge during this period . It is notable that one of the premier private airline started the move during the mentioned period by removing 800 employees at once. Later on other airlines and industries too followed it on the name of global economic slowdown. But sectors like banking, insurance, education etc. either remained unaffected or created new job opportunities during the crisis.