Covid-19: Unemployment rate rises to 4-month high, over 70 lakh out of jobs in April

The Covid crisis in India has triggered a fresh wave of unemployment in the country. The unemployment rate touched a four-month high in April as job losses increased sharply due to localised curbs imposed by states.

The unemployment rate in the country has touched a four-month high as localised lockdowns imposed in many states have impacted over 70 lakh jobs. The situation could get worse if the Covid-19 situation does not come under control by May. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), a Mumbai-based economic think-tank, told news agency PTI that the national unemployment rate in the country has touched a four-month high of nearly 8 per cent in April. In contrast, the national unemployment rate in March was 6.5 per cent. CMIE said that the unemployment outlook remains weak due to restrictions imposed to contain the unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases. Mahesh Vyas, CMIE MD, told the news agency that the Covid-19 situation in the country is likely to impact employment generation in the coming months.