Marginal Rise in Unemployment Rate in December 2025: PLFS Report

In December 2025, India's unemployment rate slightly increased to 4.8% from 4.7% in November, as per the PLFS report by MoSPI. Rural joblessness remained steady while urban rates saw a minor uptick. The Worker Population Ratio and Labour Force Participation Rate showed gradual improvements across various demographics.

India's unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 years and above inched up to 4.8% in December 2025 from 4.7% the previous month, as revealed by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). This minor rise indicates a shift in joblessness patterns towards urban settings.

While rural unemployment remained unchanged at 3.9%, urban unemployment witnessed a slight increase from 6.5% to 6.7%. Notably, urban female unemployment experienced a marginal reduction from November's 9.3% to 9.1% in December 2025, reflecting nuances in gender and regional employment dynamics.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for the age group 15 and above demonstrated a steady rise, highlighting positive employment trends despite urban economic pressures. The urban male WPR decreased slightly, while rural male and female WPRs improved, showing a minor overall workforce increase.

(With inputs from agencies.)