The overall employment figure in the country rose by 12.96 lakh during the last one year with the IT/BPO sector generating maximum employment opportunities.

The figures were compiled out of quarterly surveys conducted by the Labour Bureau between September last year and September this year.

According to a survey done by the bureau under the Labour and Employment Ministry, the IT/BPO sector generated 8.54 lakh employment opportunities while the textiles sector generated the second highest employment opportunity at 1.52 lakh jobs being created during this period.

This was followed by the metals sector which created 1.37 lakh jobs while the automobiles sector generated 1.10 lakh employment opportunities. The gems and jewellery produced 0.93 lakh jobs.

The quarterly surveys were first carried immediately after the onset of recession in October 2008, which had said about 4.91 lakh people had lost their jobs in its aftermath.

Compared to it, the latest quarterly survey -- the eighth in the series -- for the period between July-September has said employment in the country has risen by 4.35 lakh.

The survey, which covered eight selected sectors, said the maximum increase in employment was observed in textile sector including apparel where jobs generated were 2.45 lakh.

The textile sector was followed by the IT/BPO sector where employment rose by 1.08 lakh. Employment in automobile and metal industry rose by 0.29 lakh and 0.27 lakh each.

The last survey for the April-June quarter had revealed that the overall employment during the said period rose by 1.62 lakh.

The present survey said that in the export oriented units, the employment at the overall level increased by 3.05 lakh whereas in the non-exporting units, it has increased by 1.30 lakh during July-September period as against the April-June quarter this year.