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Informist, Monday, May 11, 2026

 

--MoSPI: India unemployment rate 5.0% in Jan-Mar vs 4.8% in Oct-Dec

--CONTEXT: MoSPI releases Periodic Labour Force Survey for Jan-Mar

--MoSPI: India rural unemployment rate 4.3% in Jan-Mar vs 4.0% in Oct-Dec

--MoSPI: India urban unemployment rate 6.6% in Jan-Mar vs 6.7% in Oct-Dec

--MoSPI: India labour force participation rate 55.5% Jan-Mar vs 55.8% Oct-Dec 

--MoSPI: India worker population ratio rate 52.8% in Jan-Mar vs 53.1% Oct-Dec 

 

NEW DELHI – India's unemployment rate for those aged above 15 years rose to 5.0% in the March quarter from 4.8% a quarter ago, driven by an increase in rural unemployment. Rural unemployment rate for those aged above 15 years rose to 4.3% in the March quarter from 4.0% a quarter ago, while the unemployment rate in urban areas eased to 6.6% from 6.7% during the same period, according to results of the Periodic Labour Force Survey for Jan-Mar.

 

The female unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in Jan-Mar from 4.9%, while the male rate remained unchanged at 4.8%.

 

Based on the projected population figures of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 573.95 million people were employed in India in the March quarter, down from 574.36 million in the December quarter, the statistics ministry said in a release.

 

The labour force participation rate – the percentage of persons working or seeking work – moderated to 55.5% in the March quarter, from 55.8% in the December quarter. The rural labour force participation rate eased to 58.2% in the last quarter from 58.4% in Oct-Dec. The urban labour force participation rate was a tad lower at 50.2% in Jan-Mar, down from 50.4% in the December quarter.

 

The labour force participation rate among males across India was higher at 77.3% compared with 34.7% for females during the March quarter. The participation rate was 77.6% for males and 34.9% for females in the December quarter.

 

The worker population ratio – the percentage of employed persons in the population – fell to 52.8% in Jan-Mar from 53.1% in the December quarter. In urban areas, the worker population ratio was 46.9% in the March quarter, down from 47.1% a quarter earlier. The rural worker population ratio was 55.7% in the three months ended March, lower than 56.1% in the previous quarter. 

 

Nearly 56% of the rural workforce was employed in the agricultural sector during the March quarter, down from nearly 59% in the previous quarter. In urban areas, the tertiary sector remained largely stable, accounting for 62.1% of workers during Jan-Mar, a tad higher than 61.9% a quarter ago.

 

The share of self-employed people in the overall workforce declined in the March quarter to 55.8% from 56.3% in the December quarter.  End

 

Reported by Shweta

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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