Chandigarh, Aug. 4 -- Punjab's youth unemployment rate has eased over the past three years, but the state continues to lag well behind the national average, with joblessness among educated youth also remaining disproportionately high, the Union government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. While acknowledging concerns over industrial decline and rising emigration, the Centre maintained that employment opportunities in Punjab have expanded through MSME support, industrial incentives and self-employment schemes.

Replying to a starred question by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on the impact of industrial decline on youth employment and migration, Union labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the unemployment rate among people...