Source: TOI
Context:
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), provides monthly estimates of key labour market indicators for persons aged 15 years and above.
Key Findings:
Unemployment Rate (UR)
- Declined to 4.7% in November
- Lowest since April, when it was 5.1%
- Indicates improvement in employment conditions
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is the percentage of a country’s working-age population (usually aged 15 and above) that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
Overall LFPR
- Increased to 55.8% in November
- Highest level since April
- Growth driven mainly by rural participation
Rural vs Urban Trends
- Rural LFPR: Rose to 58.6% in November (from 58% in April)
- Urban LFPR: Marginal dip from 50.5% (October) to 50.4% (November)
Female Labour Force Participation
Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) is the percentage of women of working age (usually 15–64 years) who are either employed or actively seeking employment.
Overall Trend
- Steady increase from June to November 2025
- Rose from 32% to 35.1%
Rural–Urban Divide
- Rural female LFPR:
- Increased from 35.2% (June) to 39.7% (November)
- Major contributor to overall female participation
- Urban female LFPR:
- Remained relatively stable
Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
Worker Population Ratio (WPR) is the proportion of employed persons in the total population of a country or region.
Overall WPR
- Increased from 52.8% (April 2025) to 53.2% (November 2025)
Rural WPR
- Rose from 55.4% to 56.3%
Female WPR
- Overall female WPR increased from 32.5% to 33.4%
- Rural female WPR improved significantly from 36.8% to 38.4%
