As per the first-ever job survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) , it was revealed that India’s monthly unemployment rate stood at 5.1 per cent in April 2025. This data spearheaded a significant shift in monitoring employment, as compared to the quarterly and annual reports published earlier. A Period Labour Force Survey (PLFS) has been launched by the ministry. Offering real time insights, this body has contributed towards gauging the proportion of unemployed people.
How is the job survey conducted?
Based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS) this survey uses the previous seven days as a reference. Based on that it was revealed that 5.1% people were jobless in April 2025 across all age groups. However, men had a slightly higher monthly unemployment rate at 5.2%, in contrast to women who had 5% as per PTI reports.
Monthly Unemployment Rate Data
For those aged between, 15 to 29 years, the overall unemployment rate across the youth is significantly higher with 13.8%. An opposing trend was noticed when the female section faced the burden of employment in this age group, standing at 14.4%. Interestingly, the monthly job survey suggested that urban areas fell more towards joblessness of 17.2% and rural monthly unemployment was much lower – recorded at 12.3%.
The overall nationwide monthly unemployment rate for men and women stood deeply divided at 14.4% with 23.7% in urban areas and 10.7% in villages. Similarly for men, 13.6% men are currently jobless in India with urban areas trend rallying towards 15%.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
In April 2025, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above was 55.6%, with rural areas reporting a higher rate at 58% compared to 50.7% in urban regions. Among males, LFPR stood at 79% in rural and 75.3% in urban areas. In contrast, female participation in rural areas was notably lower at 38.2%. LFPR reflects the share of the population that is employed, actively looking for work, or available to work.
Based on the changes made by MOSPI, India’s National Statistics Office is revamping the Periodic Labour Force Survey by extending quarterly labour market assessments. Including rural areas the sample size has been increased by 250%, and a shift in the reporting cycle to a calendar year has been reported. The first comprehensive report, covering both urban and rural data, is set for release in August.