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Unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above rose marginally to 4.8% in December 2025 compared to 4.7% in the preceding month.
The unemployment rate (UR) or joblessness, among persons of age 15 years and above, remained largely stable in December 2025, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Thursday (January 15).
The overall UR is estimated at 4.8% in December 2025 against 4.7% observed in November 2025, it added.
The rural UR remained stagnant at 3.9%, while the urban UR increased to 6.7% from 6.5% in the previous month, the data showed.
Among rural males aged 15 years and above, the UR remained low and stable at 4.1% in December 2025.
Further, the urban female UR moderated to 9.1% in December 2025 from 9.3% in November 2025.
Read more:Labour minister nudges quick commerce firms to drop 10-minute delivery branding
According to a statement, the UR in the remaining gender sector increased slightly, though it continued to remain below the levels observed during the mid-year months.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in the age group of 15 years and above showed a gradual improvement in December.
Among rural males, WPR edged up to 76% in December from 75.4% in November 2025, while urban male WPR observed a decline from 70.9% in November 2025 to 70.4% in December, pushing the overall male WPR to 74.1%.
Rural female WPR rose marginally from 38.4% to 38.6% during this period, while urban female WPR was around 23%, leading to an overall female WPR of 33.6% in December 2025 from 33.4% observed in November.
The overall WPR observed at 53.4% in December 2025 against 53.2% in November.
The overall workforce remained steady, rising marginally to 53.4% in December 2025 from 53.2% in November.
The overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) among persons aged 15 years and above showed an upward trend.
The overall LFPR observed at 56.1% in December 2025 compared to 55.8% in November.
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In rural areas, the LFPR was estimated at 59% in December 2025 against 58.6% in November.
The urban LFPR experienced a slight dip to 50.2% from 50.4% during this period.
In December 2025, overall labour force participation for females aged 15 years and above edged up to 35.3% from 35.1% in November.
In rural areas, it witnessed an increase to 40.1% during December 2025 from 39.7% in the previous month and in urban areas, it slipped slightly to 25.3% from 25.5%.
Rural female LFPR continued its gradual rise, reaching 40.1% in December, up from 39.7% in November 2025.
At the all-India level, the monthly estimates are based on information collected from a total of 3,73,990 persons surveyed.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) defines the proportion of those who are employed among the total population.
Considering the need for high-frequency labour force indicators with enhanced coverage, the sampling methodology of PLFS has been revamped since January 2025.
Read More: India’s exports rise in first nine months of FY26, trade deficit widens beyond $25 billion
The monthly bulletins for the period from April to November 2025 have already been released. The present bulletin for December 2025 is the ninth in the series.
The unemployment rate (UR) or joblessness, among persons of age 15 years and above, remained largely stable in December 2025, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Thursday (January 15).
The overall UR is estimated at 4.8% in December 2025 against 4.7% observed in November 2025, it added.
The rural UR remained stagnant at 3.9%, while the urban UR increased to 6.7% from 6.5% in the previous month, the data showed.
Among rural males aged 15 years and above, the UR remained low and stable at 4.1% in December 2025.
Further, the urban female UR moderated to 9.1% in December 2025 from 9.3% in November 2025.
Read more:Labour minister nudges quick commerce firms to drop 10-minute delivery branding
According to a statement, the UR in the remaining gender sector increased slightly, though it continued to remain below the levels observed during the mid-year months.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in the age group of 15 years and above showed a gradual improvement in December.
Among rural males, WPR edged up to 76% in December from 75.4% in November 2025, while urban male WPR observed a decline from 70.9% in November 2025 to 70.4% in December, pushing the overall male WPR to 74.1%.
Rural female WPR rose marginally from 38.4% to 38.6% during this period, while urban female WPR was around 23%, leading to an overall female WPR of 33.6% in December 2025 from 33.4% observed in November.
The overall WPR observed at 53.4% in December 2025 against 53.2% in November.
The overall workforce remained steady, rising marginally to 53.4% in December 2025 from 53.2% in November.
The overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) among persons aged 15 years and above showed an upward trend.
The overall LFPR observed at 56.1% in December 2025 compared to 55.8% in November.
Read more:Budget 2026 Expectations Live Updates
In rural areas, the LFPR was estimated at 59% in December 2025 against 58.6% in November.
The urban LFPR experienced a slight dip to 50.2% from 50.4% during this period.
In December 2025, overall labour force participation for females aged 15 years and above edged up to 35.3% from 35.1% in November.
In rural areas, it witnessed an increase to 40.1% during December 2025 from 39.7% in the previous month and in urban areas, it slipped slightly to 25.3% from 25.5%.
Rural female LFPR continued its gradual rise, reaching 40.1% in December, up from 39.7% in November 2025.
At the all-India level, the monthly estimates are based on information collected from a total of 3,73,990 persons surveyed.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) defines the proportion of those who are employed among the total population.
Considering the need for high-frequency labour force indicators with enhanced coverage, the sampling methodology of PLFS has been revamped since January 2025.
Read More: India’s exports rise in first nine months of FY26, trade deficit widens beyond $25 billion
The monthly bulletins for the period from April to November 2025 have already been released. The present bulletin for December 2025 is the ninth in the series.
