India’s First Monthly Job Data Shows 5.1% Unemployment Rate

BUSINESS

By Aniket Chakraborty May 16, 2025 Arrow

The new data was gathered under the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).

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Men had a slightly higher unemployment rate (5.2%) than women (5%) in April.

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Urban youth (15–29 years) were hit hardest—unemployment was 17.2% in cities.

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Overall, joblessness for youth (15–29) stood at 13.8% nationwide.

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Female youth unemployment in cities was a steep 23.7%, vs. 10.7% in villages.

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The labour force participation rate (LFPR) was 55.6%, lower in urban areas (50.7%).

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Among rural women aged 15+, only 38.2% were in the workforce.

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The worker population ratio (WPR) was 52.8% nationally—only 23.5% among urban women.

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High-frequency tracking is now in place—but India’s employment gap remains a challenge.

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