The government today said that the unemployment rate in the country has been showing a declining trend over recent years. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje said that as per the latest available Annual Periodic Labour Force Survey Reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate for persons aged 15 years and above was 4.2 per cent in 2020-21, 4.1 in 2021-22 and 3.2 percentage during 2022-23. She further added that as per the latest available Annual PLFS Reports, the average salary earnings during the preceding calendar month by the regular salaried employees in current weekly status (CWS) has increased to 20,039 rupees during the period April-June, 2023 as compared to 16,848 rupees during the period April-June, 2018, indicating 18.94 per cent increase in regular salary.