15-05-2025
Unemployment rate at 5.1%, increase in women labour force: PLFS data show
According to the first monthly bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released here on Thursday by the Union Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation under a revamped method, the unemployment Rate (UR) in current weekly status (CWS) in the country among persons of age 15 years and above was 5.1% in April, 2025. UR among males in the country was higher at 5.2% compared to the female UR of 5.0%. The rural unemployment rate for all persons in all ages was 4.5% and the urban unemployment 6.5%. The urban unemployment rate among females in the age between 15 and 29 years was 23.7%. The revamped model assesses employment and unemployment data from rural areas too.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in CWS among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.6% during the period. LFPR in rural areas was 58.0% and in urban areas it was 50.7% for in April for persons of the same age group. While LFPR for males above 15 years in rural and urban areas were respectively 79.0% and 75.3% during April, among females the LFPR in rural areas was 38.2% and 25.7% in urban areas.
Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 55.4%. 'WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 47.4% with the overall WPR at the country level observed as 52.8% during April, 2025. WPR for female of age 15 years and above for rural and urban areas were respectively 36.8% and 23.5% in April, 2025 and the overall female WPR of the same age group at the country level was observed as 32.5%,' the Ministry said in the release.
Commenting on the revamped PLFS, labour economist Sridhar Kundu said it is a big effort of the Union government to track the employment status monthly in the case of urban areas and quarterly, from both rural and urban areas. 'Importantly, the size of sample households has increased, which can help provide better information about the labour market and its seasonality factor.
'Yes, of course, the government is putting enough resources into this cause. But what is the broader objective? Can the information help make better policy decisions? What is the roadmap to deal with the mixed labour force, both skilled and unskilled? Second, the PLFS usually fails to provide adequate information about the functioning of the labour market-oriented government schemes, such as MGNREGA and others.
'The survey does not cover information about wage rates in various sectors and sub-sectors. The survey should address these areas adequately,' Dr. Kundu sad.
