Unemployment rate high, 6000 child labourers

The labour force survey, 2009 of the Ministry of Labour indicated that the unemployment rate in the country has gone up to four percent this year from 3.7 percent in 2007.

According to the report, some 13,000 were found unemployed, majority of this consists of young minds and school drop-outs.

The ministry reported that there are 5,000 drop-outs from high schools and secondary level schools alone, while unemployed graduates in the survey numbered 500.

The reported highlighted that majority of those employed are within the family business or profession. However, some 22.47 percent work as as self employed workers.

There are 6,037 child labourers below 17 working for economic activities, of which more the half were not paid, said the ministry’s report.

The results of the survey were based on data collected from 7,769 sample households in 20 dzongkhags from 13 March to 13 May 2009.