New Delhi, Dec 17: India’s unemployment rate stood at 5.2 per cent in October 2025 for persons aged 15 years and above, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The data, compiled under the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach, shows that the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) at the all-India level was 55.4 per cent, while the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) stood at 52.5 per cent during the month.
In rural areas, the unemployment rate was 4.4 per cent, compared to 7.0 per cent in urban areas. The LFPR in rural regions stood at 57.8 per cent, while urban areas recorded an LFPR of 50.5 per cent. The corresponding WPR figures were 55.2 per cent for rural areas and 47.0 per cent for urban areas.
Among males, the unemployment rate was 5.1 per cent, while for females it stood at 5.4 per cent. Male LFPR was reported at 77.4 per cent, significantly higher than the female LFPR of 34.2 per cent, reflecting persistent gender disparities in labour force participation.
Revamped PLFS Methodology
The government said the PLFS sampling design has been revamped from January 2025 to provide high-frequency labour market indicators with enhanced coverage. The revised design enables the generation of monthly estimates of key indicators such as LFPR, WPR and unemployment at the all-India level. Earlier, PLFS provided quarterly estimates limited to urban areas.
Under the revamped framework, quarterly employment-unemployment indicators are now available for both rural and urban areas, covering the entire country. Quarterly bulletins for April–June 2025 and July–September 2025 have already been released.
Expanded Coverage and Sample Size
PLFS now covers all States and Union Territories, with districts designated as the primary geographical unit for most regions. This change is aimed at improving the representativeness of labour market estimates. The survey sample size has been expanded to 22,692 First Stage Units, up from 12,800 units surveyed until December 2024. The number of sample households per unit has also been increased from eight to twelve, which is expected to improve the precision and reliability of estimates.
The ministry said the survey results are being released as per the Advance Release Calendar, ensuring timely dissemination of labour market data.
Transition to NIC 2025
The ongoing PLFS is currently based on the National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2008. However, MoSPI recently released NIC 2025 in November, introducing a six-digit coding structure to replace the earlier five-digit system. The updated classification reflects the evolving structure of India’s economy and is expected to improve accuracy, comparability and policy relevance of labour market statistics by capturing emerging sectors and technological advancements.
The information was shared by Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Planning, and Minister of State for Culture, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
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