Overview
- The PLFS monthly bulletin released Friday put unemployment at 5.2%, up from 5.1% in March and the highest in six months.
- Rural unemployment rose to 4.6% from 4.3%, while urban unemployment eased to 6.6%, the lowest since April 2025, with urban female joblessness down to 8.5%.
- Participation weakened as the labour force participation rate slipped to 55.0% from 55.4% and the worker population ratio fell to 52.2% from 52.6%.
- Women faced added strain nationwide, with female participation down to 33.9% and female unemployment edging up to 5.4% from 5.3% in March.
- The PLFS is India’s official monthly jobs gauge from the NSO, and coverage notes that services hiring is lifting cities while rural work remains under pressure.