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Informist, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

 

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--MoSPI: All-India unemployment rate 5.2% in Jul-Sept vs 5.4% in Apr-Jun 
--CONTEXT: MoSPI releases Periodic Labour Force Survey for Jul-Sept 
--MoSPI: India rural unemployment rate 4.4% in Jul-Sept vs 4.8% in Apr-Jun
--MoSPI: India urban unemployment rate 6.9% in Jul-Sept vs 6.8% in Apr-Jun 
--MoSPI: All-India labour force participation rate 55.1% in Q2 vs 55.0% Q1 
--MoSPI: All-India worker population ratio 52.2% in Q2 vs 52.0% Q1 

 

 

NEW DELHI – India's unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above fell to 5.2% in the September quarter from 5.4% a quarter ago, according to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday. Rural areas led the decline in the unemployment rate in the September quarter, likely due to higher farm-related work during the Monsoon season, while urban unemployment increased in the quarter. 

 

The statistics ministry now releases monthly and quarterly unemployment and labour force participation data for rural and urban areas. Previously, the ministry only released quarterly urban unemployment data and annual data for both urban and rural areas.

 

The rural unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in the September quarter from 4.8% in the June quarter. The urban employment rate rose to 6.9% in Jul-Sept from 6.8% a quarter ago.

 

On average, 562 million people aged 15 years and above were employed in the country during the September quarter, based on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's projected population figures, the statistics ministry said in a release. Of the 562 million workers, 396 million were estimated to be male and 166 million female.

 

The labour force participation rate – the percentage of persons working or seeking work - rose marginally to 55.1% in the September quarter from 55.0% a quarter ago, with a slight improvement seen in both rural and urban areas. The rural labour force participation rate inched up to 57.2% in the September quarter from 57.1% a quarter earlier. The urban labour force participation rose to 50.7% in Jul-Sept from 50.6% in the previous quarter. 

 

The labour force participation rate among males across India was much higher at 77.2% compared with 33.7% for females during the September quarter. Notably, the September quarter participation rate for females was higher than 33.4% in the previous quarter. 

The worker population ratio – the percentage of employed persons in the population – rose marginally to 52.2% in the September quarter from 52.0% in the June quarter. "This increase was largely driven by the increased participation of women, particularly in rural areas," the ministry said. "The overall WPR (worker population ratio) for females aged 15 years and above continued to improve during the quarter, reflecting a positive shift in women's engagement in the workforce."

 

The share of self-employed people in the rural workforce increased in the September quarter to 62.8% from 60.7% in the June quarter. In urban areas, the share of regular wage or salaried employment rose marginally to 49.8% in Jul-Sept from 49.4% in Apr-Jun.

 

Nearly 58% of the rural workforce was employed in the agriculture sector in the September quarter, up from nearly 54% in the June quarter. "This increase in the share of rural employment in the agriculture sector can be attributed to seasonal agricultural operations," the ministry said. In urban areas, the tertiary sector was the biggest employer at 62.0% in the September quarter, slightly higher than 61.7% in Apr-Jun.  End

 

Reported by Shubham Rana

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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