Unemployment rate slows to 5.2% in July: PLFS data

NEW DELHI: The unemployment rate for those in the 15 years and above age group slowed in July compared to June while the worker participation rate (WPR) and labour force participation rate (LFPR) improved a tad during the month.

The monthly bulletin for Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) showed the unemployment rate slowed to 5.2% in July compared to 5.6% in June. The joblessness rate among males slowed to 5.3% in July compared to 5.6% in June while among females it slowed to 5.1% in July compared to 5.6% in June.

Youth unemployment (15-29 years age group) continued to remain in double digits but slowed to 14.9% in July from 15.3% in June, PLFS data showed. The joblessness in the current weekly status (CWS) for both males and females of age 15 years and above was recorded as 5.4% during the quarter April-June 2025.

Current bulletin for April-June 2025 marks the first in the series to provide estimates for both rural and urban areas. For the first time, efforts have also been made to provide estimates of the number of workers in absolute terms, the statistics office said.

The joblessness rate for those in the 15-29 years age group was estimated at 14.6% in the April-June quarter.

Urban unemployment for those in the 15 years and above group was higher in urban areas at 6.8% in the June quarter, higher than the rate in rural areas which was estimated at 4.8%.

In terms of employment status, self-employment dominated in rural areas (55.3% of men and 71.6% of women), while regular wage/salaried employment was predominant in urban areas (47.5% of men and 55.1% of women), according to the quarterly bulletin of PLFS.

By industry of work, agriculture sector engaged majority of rural workers (44.6% of men and 70.9% of women), while tertiary sector was the largest source of employment in urban areas (60.6% of men and 64.9% of women).

PLFS quarterly bulletin also showed that on an average, 56.4 crore persons (aged 15 years and above) were employed in the country during the June quarter, of which 39.7 crore were men and 16.7 crore women.