May 24, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 23: The literacy rate slightly fall to 52 per cent during the second quarter (October-December) period of the current fiscal as against 52.4 per cent recorded in the previous quarter (July-September) of the same year. The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) Second Quarterly Report on Labour Force Survey (LFS), released recently claimed that the rate was same for both areas and gender.

The literacy rate fares higher than that of last annual LFS 2003-04, which stood at 51.6 per cent. Rural-urban divide and male-female disparity seem to be narrowing comparatively, added the report.

With slight variation, the participation rate also recorded at 32.7 per cent as against the first quarter participation rate of 32.8 per cent but more than that of the last annual LFS 2003-04 (30.4 per cent). According to the report, nonetheless, participation rate for rural areas and women are a bit higher comparatively. Augmentation of the rates for the set of economic activities carried out within the house precincts also depicts the same scenario, added the report.

The survey also assessed the indicators like employment, unemployment classified by industry and occupation besides marital status, educational attainment of the population.

Unemployment Rate: The second quarter’s over-all unemployment rate slightly declined to 6.2 per cent as compared to 6.8 per cent recorded in the first quarter. The decline seems to be gender neutral and brought about mostly by younger age groups (teens to thirties). However, all post-forties age intervals show rising unemployment for both genders and areas.

Employment by major industry divisions: The second quarter’s figures differ slightly from that of the preceding quarter. Agriculture and allied activities show upturn while manufacturing recedes a bit. Services portray a mixed trend.

According to the report, gender desegregation, generally, constitutes the same pattern. As for intersector distribution, women tend to concentrate in agriculture and allied activities while men’s profile is less skewed comparatively. Likewise is the profile of half yearly figures in comparison with the last LFS 2003-04.