Unemployment rate drops to 2% from 2.7% in 2012

The Bhutan Living Standards Survey (BLSS) Report 2017 shows a drop in the country’s unemployment rate. From 2.7 per cent in 2012, the unemployment rate in 2017 is estimated at 2 per cent.

Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, who launched the report yesterday in Thimphu, said the decline in the unemployment rate is remarkable by global standard but not for Bhutan for two reasons. “First, we have a small population, so we need our people to work, and the second reason is we don’t have any excuse to tolerate unemployment,” Lyonchhen said.

“If unemployment is transitionary or seasonal, that is okay. At least, we can deal with that. But if unemployment is chronic, that is something we cannot tolerate.”

According to the survey, Thimphu, Chhukha and Paro districts have the highest unemployment rate, making unemployment an urban phenomenon with urban employment rate of 4.6 per cent compared to only 0.8 per cent in rural areas.

Age-wise, unemployment has been found to be high within the age group of 15 to 24 at 11 per cent. The report also reveals that there are more unemployed women than men. The female unemployment rate is 11.7 per cent as opposed to 10.4 per cent male unemployment rate.

The National Statistics Bureau (NSB) conducted the BLSS 2017 in March and April with financial and technical support from the World Bank. The BLSS 2017 is the fourth in the series and followed the Living Standard Measurement Study (LSMS) methodology developed by the researchers at the World Bank.

The report provides latest information on demographics, education, health, employment, housing, income, asset ownership, public facilities, access to services, credit, and self-rate poverty and happiness.

The BLSS 2017 was conducted to provide the government with data for socio economic policy and planning, particularly for the formulation of future poverty reduction policies and strategies.

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