Panaji, Dec 21 (IANS): Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, on Monday said that he would speak to Mumbai-based industrialists and advise them to set up new industrial units in Goa to create jobs in the coastal state.

"Goa should have seen more industrial development. Those who are unemployed should get jobs here. We will make efforts to ensure that it happens. I will speak to big industrialists in Mumbai to see if some industries can be set up in Goa to provide employment," Athawale said.

Unemployment is expected to be a key agenda for all political parties ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, with even Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stating on numerous occasions that availability of jobs was emerging as a serious issue for the youth in the coastal state.

A recent survey conducted by the Goa government in association with consultancy firm KPMG estimated that the Covid-19 pandemic had led to 35-58 per cent job losses in the tourism sector alone, which is considered the backbone of Goa's economy.

Mumbai-based business information firm, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, has pegged Goa's unemployment rate at 15.9 per cent, as against the national average of 8.5 per cent.