India’s Q2 unemployment rate lowest since 2017 — 10 key highlights

India’s unemployment rate in urban areas dropped to 6.4% in the July–September 2024 quarter, down from 6.6% during the same period in 2023, marking the lowest level since unemployment data collection began in 2017, as per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. 

Ten key points: 

- Male unemployment rate dropped to 5.7% in the September 2024 quarter, down from 6% in the same quarter last year.

- Female unemployment rate decreased marginally to 8.4% in the quarter ending September 2024, from 8.6% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

- India’s unemployment rate in the preceding quarter was 6.6%

- Female unemployment rate in the preceding quarter stood at 9%, while male unemployment rate was at 5.8%. 

- Labour force participation rate (LFPR) in urban areas was 50.4% during the July-September 2024 quarter.

- Male LFPR aged 15 years and above was 75% and females LFPR was 25.5% during Q2 FY25

- WPR (Worker Population Ratio) in urban areas increased to 47.2% in July – September, 2024, up from 46% in the same quarter of 2023.

- Male WPR aged 15 years and above in urban areas increased to 70.7% in July-September quarter 2024, up from 69.4% in the same quarter of last year.

- LFPR (Labour Force Participation Rate) in urban areas among individuals aged 15 years and above has increased to 50.4% in July – September, 2024, from 49.3% during July – September, 2023.

- Unemployment rate in rural areas fell to 2.5% in 2023-24, down from 5.3% in 2017-18

Employment and unemployment data in India is sourced from the PLFS, which has been conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation since April 2017. Prior to the PLFS, the NSO (National Statistical Office) carried out Employment and unemployment surveys every five years.

In urban areas, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.1%, from 7.7%, as per the PLFS annual report released in September 2024. The unemployment rate for males fell to 3.2% in 2023-24, down from 6.1% in 2017-18, and for females, it dropped to 3.2%, down from 5.6% during the same period.