New Delhi: For persons aged 15 years and above, the all-India Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) on a current weekly status basis stood at 55.4%, with a worker population ratio (WPR) of 52.5% and an unemployment rate (UR) of 5.2%. These headline numbers from the latest monthly bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for October reflect the country’s labour market that is relatively stable, while also revealing persistent structural differences across gender and between rural and urban areas.
Rural India continues to show stronger engagement with the labour market compared to urban areas. In rural regions, the LFPR for persons was 57.8%, notably higher than the urban LFPR of 50.5%. A similar pattern is seen in employment, with the rural WPR at 55.2% compared to 47% in urban areas.
Unemployment, on the other hand, remains lower in rural India at 4.4% for persons, while urban unemployment is significantly higher at 7%. This contrast underscores the continued absorption of labour in rural activities, often in agriculture and allied sectors, while urban labour markets face relatively higher job search frictions and competitive pressures.
Gender disparities remain a defining feature of India’s labour market. Across rural and urban sectors, male participation and employment rates far exceed those of females. At the all-India level, male LFPR was 77.4% compared to just 34.2% for females, while the WPR stood at 73.4% for males and 32.4% for females. Interestingly, female unemployment at the combined rural-urban level, at 5.4%, is marginally higher than that of males at 5.1%, reflecting both lower participation and challenges in accessing suitable employment. The urban female unemployment rate of 9.7% is particularly striking, pointing to the difficulties faced by women in urban labour markets despite often higher levels of education.
Revamped PLFS Sampling
The October 2025 estimates gain additional significance in light of the revamped PLFS sampling design introduced from January 2025. The shift to monthly estimation of key indicators at the all-India level marks a major step forward in providing high-frequency labour market intelligence. Expanded coverage through district-level stratification and a substantial increase in sample size have strengthened the representativeness and precision of the estimates. With quarterly indicators now available for both rural and urban areas, policymakers and researchers are better equipped to track short-term labour market dynamics and regional variations.
Looking ahead, the transition to the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 further enhances the relevance of PLFS data. By moving to a more granular six-digit coding structure, the new classification is designed to capture emerging economic activities shaped by technology, innovation and new forms of work.
Together, the improved survey design and updated industrial classification signal a decisive move toward more accurate, timely and policy-relevant labour market statistics, ensuring that India’s rapidly evolving economy is reflected more faithfully in its official data.