Maha 7th least unemployed state, performs better than national average: Report

Nagpur: Maharashtra is the seventh least-unemployed state in the country, recording an overall unemployment rate of 13.1% among the 15-29 age group, according to the last Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The state performs better than the national average of 14.3%, indicating relatively stronger job absorption compared to several large states. However, female unemployment has surged to 19.1%, significantly higher than the male rate of 11%. The figure also marks a steep rise from 16.4% recorded in the July–September 2025 quarter — a nearly three-percentage-point jump within a single quarter.
The Quarterly PLFS for October-December 2025, released on February 10, 2026, highlights that the spike is particularly pronounced in rural areas. Rural female unemployment rose sharply from 9.8% to 15%, while rural male unemployment increased marginally from 8% to 8.7%, pushing the overall rural unemployment rate to 10.4%. Urban male unemployment more than doubled from 6.2% to 13.4%, while urban female unemployment inched up from 23.3% to 23.7%. At the aggregate level, while male unemployment slightly declined from 11.8% to 11%, the surge in female joblessness drove the total rate up from 13% to 13.1%.In contrast, national averages remained relatively stable during the same period. Rural unemployment nationally stood at 12.4% for males and 12.9% for females, while urban female unemployment remained high at 25.2%. The report, from a state-wise perspective, shows that Gujarat recorded one of the lowest overall rates at 5.9%, while Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh stood at 8.9% each. Karnataka reported 9%, though with high female unemployment at 15.2%. West Bengal (12.1%) and Haryana (12.4%) posted comparable figures. Higher overall unemployment rates were seen in Bihar (14.8%), Uttar Pradesh (15.1%), and Delhi (15.8%).According to state additional labour commissioner Kishor Dahiphalkar, the rise in female unemployment in this specific age group in Maharashtra can be attributed to social and demographic factors rather than a complete withdrawal from the workforce. He explained that a significant number of women relocate to their in-laws' homes after marriage — a trend particularly prevalent in districts situated near state borders. "Women often move to the city where their husbands are employed. This migration plays a major role in the temporary rise in unemployment figures," he said.Dahiphalkar further pointed out that career interruptions due to pregnancy also contribute to the dip in employment numbers. Many women take a planned break during pregnancy and the early stages of childcare, typically resuming work a year or so later once the child is older. "They gradually re-enter the workforce, often beginning with work-from-home assignments or flexible engagements before transitioning back into full-time roles," he added. The official said the numbers in the survey are a result of the transitional phases in women's employment journeys rather than a long-term disengagement from the labour market.