India’s unemployment rate for people aged 15 and above remained unchanged at 5.2% in October, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The survey showed that rural unemployment eased from 4.6% in September to 4.4%, while urban joblessness rose slightly from 6.8% to 7.0%. Among women, unemployment improved marginally, mainly in rural areas, dropping from 4.3% to 4.0%. For men, the rate remained stable at 5.1%, with rural male unemployment decreasing slightly from 4.7% to 4.6% and urban male unemployment rising from 6.0% to 6.1%.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which measures the proportion of people either working or actively seeking work, increased to 55.4%, the highest in six months. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), indicating the share of employed people, also ticked up to 52.5%.
Experts say the data suggests a stable overall job market, with rural employment showing slight improvement, while urban areas face modest pressure. The rising LFPR indicates more people, particularly women in rural regions, are entering or re-entering the workforce.
