Context:
The revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) began in January 2025 to generate monthly employment and unemployment indicators. Covers both rural and urban areas using Current Weekly Status (CWS). Introduces rotational panel sampling, revisiting households 4 times over 4 months.
Sampling Statistics (April 2025)
- FSUs surveyed: 7,511 (Rural: 4,140 | Urban: 3,371)
- Households surveyed: 89,434 (Rural: 49,323 | Urban: 40,111)
- Persons surveyed: 3,80,838 (Rural: 2,17,483 | Urban: 1,63,355)
Key Indicators (for Age 15 Years and Above)
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
- Overall India: 55.6%
- Rural: 58.0% | Urban: 50.7%
- Male: 77.7% | Female: 34.2%
By Age Group (15–29 years)
- Overall: 42.7% (Male: 62.0%, Female: 23.1%)
- Urban Female LFPR (15–29 years): Lowest at 21.5%
Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
- Overall India: 52.8%
- Rural: 55.4% | Urban: 47.4%
- Male: 73.7% | Female: 32.5%
By Age Group (15–29 years)
- Overall: 36.8% (Male: 53.6%, Female: 19.8%)
- Urban Female WPR (15–29 years): Lowest at 16.4%
Unemployment Rate (UR)
- Overall India: 5.1%
- Rural: 4.5% | Urban: 6.5%
- Male: 5.2% | Female: 5.0%
By Age Group (15–29 years)
- Overall: 13.8% (Male: 13.6%, Female: 14.4%)
- Urban Female UR (15–29 years): Highest at 23.7%
Definitions for Quick Reference
- LFPR: % of people working or seeking work in population
- WPR: % of employed persons in total population
- UR: % of unemployed in the labour force
- CWS: Based on activity status in the 7 days before survey
| Category | LFPR (M) | LFPR (F) | UR (M) | UR (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural (15–29) | 63.5% | 23.8% | 13.0% | 10.7% |
| Rural (All Ages) | 57.5% | 28.8% | 4.9% | 3.8% |
| Urban (15–29) | 59.1% | 21.5% | 15.0% | 23.7% |
| Urban (All Ages) | 58.5% | 20.5% | 5.8% | 8.7% |
| Total (15–29) | 62.0% | 23.1% | 13.6% | 14.4% |
| Total (All Ages) | 57.8% | 26.2% | 5.2% | 5.0% |
Observations
- Female labour force participation and employment remain significantly low, especially in urban areas and among youth.
- Youth unemployment is a major concern (13.8% nationally; 17.2% urban; 23.7% urban female).
- Data not directly comparable with PLFS reports before Jan 2025 due to new sampling design and schedule.
