Has India’s Unemployment Rate Dropped to 5.2% in the July-September Quarter?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The unemployment rate in India fell to 5.2% in July-September.
- Rural employment in agriculture rose to 57.7%.
- Urban tertiary sector workers increased to 62%.
- Female labor force participation reached 33.7%.
- Overall Labor Force Participation Rate hit 55.1%.
New Delhi, Nov 10 (NationPress) The unemployment rate (UR) in India for individuals aged 15 years and older has decreased to 5.2% during the July-September period this year, down from 5.4% in the previous quarter of April-June, as per the data released by the Ministry of Statistics on Monday.
The proportion of rural employment in the agriculture sector saw an increase from 53.5% to 57.7% during July-September, attributed to ongoing Kharif agricultural activities, according to the official report.
In addition, the percentage of workers engaged in the urban tertiary sector rose to 62% during this quarter, up from 61.7% in the previous quarter, indicating an improvement in employment levels.
Self-employed individuals in rural regions also experienced a significant uptick, reaching 62.8% during July-September, compared to 60.7% in the preceding quarter.
The urban landscape saw a slight enhancement in the rate of regular wage employees, which increased to 49.8% during the July-September quarter from 49.4% in the earlier quarter.
The female worker-population ratio (WPR) showed an upward trend across all sectors—rural, urban, and overall—during the July–September period this year compared to the previous April–June quarter, indicating a boost in employment, according to official statistics.
Moreover, female participation in the labor force, another key employment metric, rose to 33.7% in July–September from 33.4% in April–June.
The overall Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which indicates employment levels, climbed to 55.1% during July-September 2025, compared to 55% in the previous quarter for people aged 15 years and above.
The WPR for individuals aged 15 and older showed a slight increase from 52% in April-June to 52.2% in July-September.
This upward trend in the LFPR, signaling a rise in employment, has continued for three consecutive months, with the overall participation rate hitting a five-month peak of 55.3% in September.