Image for representational purposes only. The unemployment rate (UR) was 4.6% in rural areas and 6.6% in urban areas. | Photo credit: AFP
The country’s unemployment rate for those aged 15 and over was 5.2% in April, according to the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) released on Friday (May 15, 2026) by the Office for National Statistics.
The unemployment rate (UR) was 4.6% in rural areas and 6.6% in urban areas.
The UR or unemployment recorded for March 2026 and April 2025 was 5.1%.
The urban UR was observed to be 6.8% in March 2026, while the rural UR was 4.3% in the same period.
For males aged 15 and over, the rural UR was 4.7%, while for rural females of the same age group it was 4.4%. In urban women, the UR was 8.5% compared to 5.9% observed in men.
The labor force participation rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 and over was reported at 55% in April. A LFPR of 57.5% and 50.1% was observed in rural and urban areas, respectively.
The LFPR among rural males (15 years and older) was 78.1% and 38.2% among rural females in April. A LFPR of 57.5% and 50.1% was observed in rural and urban areas, respectively.
The LFPR among rural men was 78.1% during April, but it was 38.2% for rural women.
“In urban areas, the LFPR among females was 25.0% in April compared to 75.2% observed among males,” the survey said.
The working population proportion (WPR) for persons aged 15 years and above at the all-India level was 52.2% in April, with 54.9% reported in rural areas and 46.8% in urban areas.
“The WPR among rural males aged 15 years and above was 74.5% in April. Rural females had a WPR of 36.5%. In urban areas, the WPR among females during the same period was 22.9% compared to 70.7% observed among males,” PLFS found.
Published – 15 May 2026 22:42 IST
