India Data Review

Jobs

In 2025, 59.3% of Indians aged 15 and over were working or looking for work, and 3.1% of them could not find work, according to MoSPI's Periodic Labour Force Survey. Fewer than half as many women as men are in the labour force.

Unemployment rate, 2025
3.1%
aged 15+; youth (15–29): 9.9%
In the labour force, 2025
59.3%
working or seeking work, aged 15+
Women in the labour force
40.0%
men: 79.1%; women in 2022: 33.9%
Working, 2025
57.4%
worker population ratio, aged 15+

Three measures

Labour force participation: the share of people who are working or looking for work. Worker population ratio: the share who are working. Unemployment rate: the share of the labour force (not of everyone) who are looking for work but have none. Annual figures use the survey'susual status (what a person mainly did over the past year, counting a subsidiary job of at least 30 days); quarterly and monthly figures use current weekly status (the past seven days).

Labour force participation, 2025

Share of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work.

  • Women
  • Men
  • Everyone
  1. All IndiaWomen: 40.0% · Men: 79.1% · Everyone: 59.3%
  2. RuralWomen: 45.9% · Men: 80.5% · Everyone: 62.8%
  3. UrbanWomen: 27.7% · Men: 76.2% · Everyone: 52.2%
Show as table
WomenMenEveryone
All India40.0%79.1%59.3%
Rural45.9%80.5%62.8%
Urban27.7%76.2%52.2%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Unemployment rate, 2025

Share of the labour force aged 15 and over without work.

  • Women
  • Men
  • Everyone
  1. All IndiaWomen: 3.1% · Men: 3.1% · Everyone: 3.1%
  2. RuralWomen: 2.1% · Men: 2.6% · Everyone: 2.4%
  3. UrbanWomen: 6.4% · Men: 4.2% · Everyone: 4.8%
Show as table
WomenMenEveryone
All India3.1%3.1%3.1%
Rural2.1%2.6%2.4%
Urban6.4%4.2%4.8%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Labour force participation

Aged 15 and over, usual status, calendar years 2022–2025.

  • Women
  • Men
  • Everyone
0%20%40%60%80%20222023202420250%20%40%60%80%2022202320242025
Show as table
YearWomenMenEveryone
202233.9%78.0%56.1%
202341.3%78.3%59.8%
202440.3%79.2%59.6%
202540.0%79.1%59.3%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Unemployment rate

Aged 15 and over, usual status, calendar years 2022–2025.

  • Women
  • Men
  • Everyone
0%1%2%3%4%20222023202420250%1%2%3%4%2022202320242025
Show as table
YearWomenMenEveryone
20223.3%3.7%3.6%
20233.0%3.2%3.1%
20243.1%3.3%3.2%
20253.1%3.1%3.1%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Urban unemployment, quarter by quarter

Towns and cities, aged 15 and over, current weekly status, Apr–Jun 2018 to Apr–Jun 2026. In Apr–Jun 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, it reached 20.8%.

  • Women
  • Men
  • Everyone
0%10%20%30%Jul–Sep 2019Oct–Dec 2021Jan–Mar 2024Apr–Jun 20260%10%20%30%Apr–Jun 2018Apr–Jun 2019Apr–Jun 2020Apr–Jun 2021Apr–Jun 2022Apr–Jun 2023Apr–Jun 2024Apr–Jun 2025Apr–Jun 2026
Show as table
YearWomenMenEveryone
Apr–Jun 201812.7%8.9%9.7%
Jul–Sep 201812.6%8.9%9.6%
Oct–Dec 201812.1%9.0%9.7%
Jan–Mar 201911.6%8.6%9.2%
Apr–Jun 2019–––
Jul–Sep 20199.7%8.0%8.1%
Oct–Dec 20199.8%7.3%7.8%
Jan–Mar 202010.6%8.6%9.1%
Apr–Jun 202021.1%20.7%20.8%
Jul–Sep 2020–12.6%13.2%
Oct–Dec 202013.1%9.5%10.3%
Jan–Mar 202111.0%8.6%9.3%
Apr–Jun 202114.3%12.2%12.6%
Jul–Sep 202111.6%9.3%–
Oct–Dec 202110.5%8.3%8.7%
Jan–Mar 202210.1%7.7%8.2%
Apr–Jun 20229.5%7.1%7.6%
Jul–Sep 20229.4%6.6%7.2%
Oct–Dec 20229.6%6.5%7.2%
Jan–Mar 20239.2%6.0%6.8%
Apr–Jun 20239.1%5.9%6.6%
Jul–Sep 20238.6%6.0%6.6%
Oct–Dec 20238.6%5.8%6.5%
Jan–Mar 20248.5%6.1%6.7%
Apr–Jun 20249.0%5.8%6.6%
Jul–Sep 20248.4%5.7%6.4%
Oct–Dec 20248.1%5.8%6.4%
Jan–Mar 2025–––
Apr–Jun 20258.9%6.1%6.8%
Jul–Sep 20259.0%6.2%6.9%
Oct–Dec 20259.0%5.9%6.7%
Jan–Mar 20269.1%5.8%6.6%
Apr–Jun 20268.7%6.1%6.7%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service. Gaps: 8 quarterly figures in MoSPI's data service fail its own consistency checks (see Sources) and are not shown.

Unemployment, month by month

Aged 15 and over, current weekly status. MoSPI's monthly survey started in January 2025; latest Sep 2026.

  • Rural + urban
  • Rural
  • Urban
3%4%5%6%7%8%Jun 2025Nov 2025Apr 2026Sep 20263%4%5%6%7%8%May 2025Jul 2025Sep 2025Nov 2025Jan 2026Mar 2026May 2026Jul 2026Sep 2026
Show as table
YearRural + urbanRuralUrban
Apr 20255.1%4.5%6.5%
May 20255.6%5.1%6.9%
Jun 20255.6%4.9%7.1%
Jul 20255.2%4.4%7.2%
Aug 20255.1%4.3%6.7%
Sep 20255.2%4.6%6.8%
Oct 20255.2%4.4%7.0%
Nov 20254.7%3.9%6.5%
Dec 20254.8%3.9%6.7%
Jan 20265.0%4.2%7.0%
Feb 20264.9%4.2%6.6%
Mar 20265.1%4.3%6.8%
Apr 20265.2%4.6%6.6%
May 20265.5%5.1%6.4%
Jun 20265.5%5.0%6.6%
Jul 20265.1%4.5%6.7%
Aug 20265.0%4.1%6.8%
Sep 20265.0%4.2%6.9%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Young people (15–29), unemployment rate, 2025

  • Women
  • Men
  • Everyone
  1. All IndiaWomen: 11.3% · Men: 9.3% · Everyone: 9.9%
  2. RuralWomen: 8.6% · Men: 8.2% · Everyone: 8.3%
  3. UrbanWomen: 18.9% · Men: 11.8% · Everyone: 13.6%
Show as table
WomenMenEveryone
All India11.3%9.3%9.9%
Rural8.6%8.2%8.3%
Urban18.9%11.8%13.6%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Unemployment by education, 2025

All ages, usual status. Graduates are far more likely to be looking for work than people with little schooling, who mostly cannot afford not to work.

  1. Not literate0.3%57.2% in the labour force
  2. Literate & upto primary0.6%67.4% in the labour force
  3. Middle1.6%60.6% in the labour force
  4. Secondary2.1%49.9% in the labour force
  5. Higher secondary4.7%49.5% in the labour force
  6. Diploma/ certificate course6.9%78.6% in the labour force
  7. Graduate11.2%66.2% in the labour force
  8. Post graduate & above10.0%70.7% in the labour force
  9. Secondary & above6.5%56.5% in the labour force

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Labour force participation by social group, 2025

Aged 15 and over, usual status.

  1. Scheduled tribe73.1%unemployment 2.1%
  2. Scheduled caste61.3%unemployment 3.3%
  3. Other backward class58.6%unemployment 3.0%
  4. Others53.9%unemployment 3.7%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Labour force participation by religion, 2025

Aged 15 and over, usual status. MoSPI publishes the four largest religions.

  1. Christianity62.7%unemployment 3.6%
  2. Hinduism60.2%unemployment 3.0%
  3. Sikhism55.9%unemployment 5.1%
  4. Islam53.2%unemployment 3.2%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Women and men in the labour force, by state, 2025

Aged 15 and over, usual status. Sorted by the figure for everyone.

  • Women
  • Men
  1. SikkimWomen: 66.7% · Men: 81.3%
  2. Himachal PradeshWomen: 64.7% · Men: 82.5%
  3. MeghalayaWomen: 64.3% · Men: 80.6%
  4. NagalandWomen: 64.5% · Men: 79.7%
  5. ChhattisgarhWomen: 59.8% · Men: 83.5%
  6. Arunachal PradeshWomen: 61.7% · Men: 80.5%
  7. Andaman & Nicobar IslandsWomen: 50.3% · Men: 84.0%
  8. LadakhWomen: 61.0% · Men: 70.9%
  9. Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & DiuWomen: 38.3% · Men: 85.3%
  10. GujaratWomen: 46.2% · Men: 83.4%
  11. Madhya PradeshWomen: 46.1% · Men: 83.5%
  12. Jammu & KashmirWomen: 53.1% · Men: 76.3%
  13. RajasthanWomen: 52.3% · Men: 77.0%
  14. OdishaWomen: 47.3% · Men: 80.6%
  15. ManipurWomen: 52.6% · Men: 74.1%
  16. Tamil NaduWomen: 47.3% · Men: 78.3%
  17. TripuraWomen: 46.3% · Men: 78.9%
  18. AssamWomen: 42.8% · Men: 81.7%
  19. TelanganaWomen: 46.4% · Men: 77.1%
  20. Andhra PradeshWomen: 44.8% · Men: 78.3%
  21. JharkhandWomen: 43.7% · Men: 77.0%
  22. MaharashtraWomen: 39.9% · Men: 78.4%
  23. KarnatakaWomen: 39.8% · Men: 79.4%
  24. West BengalWomen: 37.5% · Men: 82.3%
  25. KeralaWomen: 41.2% · Men: 75.8%
  26. UttarakhandWomen: 37.8% · Men: 75.5%
  27. ChandigarhWomen: 35.6% · Men: 74.8%
  28. PunjabWomen: 30.2% · Men: 79.2%
  29. Uttar PradeshWomen: 32.4% · Men: 78.9%
  30. MizoramWomen: 38.0% · Men: 67.8%
  31. PuducherryWomen: 32.7% · Men: 72.7%
  32. GoaWomen: 27.4% · Men: 73.4%
  33. HaryanaWomen: 23.8% · Men: 75.0%
  34. BiharWomen: 24.7% · Men: 75.7%
  35. LakshadweepWomen: 21.9% · Men: 76.1%
  36. DelhiWomen: 13.1% · Men: 71.5%
Show as table
WomenMen
Sikkim66.7%81.3%
Himachal Pradesh64.7%82.5%
Meghalaya64.3%80.6%
Nagaland64.5%79.7%
Chhattisgarh59.8%83.5%
Arunachal Pradesh61.7%80.5%
Andaman & Nicobar Islands50.3%84.0%
Ladakh61.0%70.9%
Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu38.3%85.3%
Gujarat46.2%83.4%
Madhya Pradesh46.1%83.5%
Jammu & Kashmir53.1%76.3%
Rajasthan52.3%77.0%
Odisha47.3%80.6%
Manipur52.6%74.1%
Tamil Nadu47.3%78.3%
Tripura46.3%78.9%
Assam42.8%81.7%
Telangana46.4%77.1%
Andhra Pradesh44.8%78.3%
Jharkhand43.7%77.0%
Maharashtra39.9%78.4%
Karnataka39.8%79.4%
West Bengal37.5%82.3%
Kerala41.2%75.8%
Uttarakhand37.8%75.5%
Chandigarh35.6%74.8%
Punjab30.2%79.2%
Uttar Pradesh32.4%78.9%
Mizoram38.0%67.8%
Puducherry32.7%72.7%
Goa27.4%73.4%
Haryana23.8%75.0%
Bihar24.7%75.7%
Lakshadweep21.9%76.1%
Delhi13.1%71.5%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.

Unemployment by state, 2025

Aged 15 and over, usual status. Sorted by the figure for everyone.

  • Women
  • Men
  1. Andaman & Nicobar IslandsWomen: 16.4% · Men: 6.2%
  2. GoaWomen: 7.3% · Men: 8.6%
  3. LakshadweepWomen: 10.5% · Men: 5.6%
  4. NagalandWomen: 8.4% · Men: 5.3%
  5. Arunachal PradeshWomen: 7.4% · Men: 6.0%
  6. DelhiWomen: 7.4% · Men: 5.7%
  7. ChandigarhWomen: 14.2% · Men: 2.0%
  8. PuducherryWomen: 7.9% · Men: 4.2%
  9. PunjabWomen: 7.3% · Men: 4.6%
  10. ManipurWomen: 6.9% · Men: 3.8%
  11. UttarakhandWomen: 4.7% · Men: 5.4%
  12. TelanganaWomen: 4.8% · Men: 5.1%
  13. Jammu & KashmirWomen: 6.5% · Men: 3.9%
  14. MeghalayaWomen: 6.6% · Men: 3.2%
  15. HaryanaWomen: 4.0% · Men: 4.6%
  16. Himachal PradeshWomen: 4.0% · Men: 5.0%
  17. KeralaWomen: 6.4% · Men: 3.1%
  18. RajasthanWomen: 4.6% · Men: 4.2%
  19. Andhra PradeshWomen: 4.0% · Men: 4.3%
  20. LadakhWomen: 3.7% · Men: 4.3%
  21. BiharWomen: 3.0% · Men: 4.1%
  22. AssamWomen: 4.3% · Men: 3.4%
  23. Tamil NaduWomen: 3.6% · Men: 3.2%
  24. SikkimWomen: 3.4% · Men: 3.1%
  25. OdishaWomen: 2.4% · Men: 3.3%
  26. West BengalWomen: 3.2% · Men: 2.7%
  27. JharkhandWomen: 1.7% · Men: 3.2%
  28. TripuraWomen: 4.8% · Men: 1.4%
  29. Uttar PradeshWomen: 2.1% · Men: 2.9%
  30. MaharashtraWomen: 2.1% · Men: 2.5%
  31. MizoramWomen: 2.1% · Men: 2.5%
  32. ChhattisgarhWomen: 2.2% · Men: 2.4%
  33. KarnatakaWomen: 2.3% · Men: 2.4%
  34. Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & DiuWomen: 0.7% · Men: 1.9%
  35. Madhya PradeshWomen: 1.1% · Men: 1.7%
  36. GujaratWomen: 0.7% · Men: 1.1%
Show as table
WomenMen
Andaman & Nicobar Islands16.4%6.2%
Goa7.3%8.6%
Lakshadweep10.5%5.6%
Nagaland8.4%5.3%
Arunachal Pradesh7.4%6.0%
Delhi7.4%5.7%
Chandigarh14.2%2.0%
Puducherry7.9%4.2%
Punjab7.3%4.6%
Manipur6.9%3.8%
Uttarakhand4.7%5.4%
Telangana4.8%5.1%
Jammu & Kashmir6.5%3.9%
Meghalaya6.6%3.2%
Haryana4.0%4.6%
Himachal Pradesh4.0%5.0%
Kerala6.4%3.1%
Rajasthan4.6%4.2%
Andhra Pradesh4.0%4.3%
Ladakh3.7%4.3%
Bihar3.0%4.1%
Assam4.3%3.4%
Tamil Nadu3.6%3.2%
Sikkim3.4%3.1%
Odisha2.4%3.3%
West Bengal3.2%2.7%
Jharkhand1.7%3.2%
Tripura4.8%1.4%
Uttar Pradesh2.1%2.9%
Maharashtra2.1%2.5%
Mizoram2.1%2.5%
Chhattisgarh2.2%2.4%
Karnataka2.3%2.4%
Dadra & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu0.7%1.9%
Madhya Pradesh1.1%1.7%
Gujarat0.7%1.1%

MoSPI, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), via MoSPI's data service.