In January 2017, I had conjectured that the fall in unemployment in the quarter gone by reflects a fall in labour participation. Demonetisation is believed to have led to a loss of jobs on a large scale, as also the loss of hope of obtaining employment for a large number of people.

And, it hit very hard the vulnerable sections - those with insecure jobs, those with limited education, women and those who were unemployed but hopeful of gaining employment. Statistical profile of the employment/unemployment status of the now-available September-December 2016 period, or the ...