The unemployment rate in the country has decreased by 0.3 percent from 2.9 percent in 2013 to 2.6 percent in 2014, according to the findings of National Labour Force Survey conducted in December, last year.
Similarly, the youth unemployment rate has also decreased by 0.2 percent from 9.6 percent in 2013 to 9.4 percent in 2014. Youth in Bhutan are those within the age bracket of 15 to 24.
The youth population is estimated at 145,611 with 69,080 male and 76,531 female, as per the survey. The female youth unemployment rate is 10.0 percent while male youth unemployment rate is 8.6 percent.
The decline in both the national and youth unemployment rates is attributed to improved economy of the country in 2014 and the Government’s new initiatives on employment promotion and facilitation programs, says a press release from the labour ministry.
The initiatives, according to the press release, are Guaranteed Employment Programs, Direct Employment Scheme, Employment Skills Programs, and Overseas Employment Scheme.
The survey also found that the total labour force in the country both employed and unemployed, stands at 348,742.
It says 76.4 percent of the total employed persons are working in informal sectors mostly in Agri-farming.
The labour ministry had Computer Assisted Personal Interview, for the first time, to conduct the survey.
The survey covered all the dzongkhags.
