India’s unemployment rate steady at 5.2% in April; rural joblessness rises to 4.6%

India’s overall unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above remained broadly stable at 5.2% in April 2026, even as rural joblessness edged higher, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin released by the government.

The data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed that the overall unemployment rate was little changed from 5.1% in March 2026 and April 2025, indicating broad stability in labour market conditions.

Also Read: India’s urban unemployment rate eases to 6.6% in Jan-March quarter, rural joblessness rises to 4.3%


At the segment level, rural unemployment rose to 4.6% in April from 4.3% in the previous month, while urban unemployment eased marginally to 6.6% from 6.8% over the same period.

The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 55.0% in April from 55.4% in March, reflecting a mild softening in workforce participation. Female LFPR also fell to 33.9% from 34.4% during the same period.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) similarly moderated to 52.2% in April from 52.6% in March, even as urban WPR remained unchanged at 46.8%, suggesting stability in urban employment conditions.

Overall, the PLFS bulletin indicated that India’s labour market continued to show broad stability, with only marginal month-on-month movements across key indicators of employment, participation and unemployment.

Also Read: Substantial regional disparities in labour market conditions across India: SBI Research Report

Urban female unemployment eased to 8.5% in April — its lowest level since April 2025 — while rural indicators showed mixed trends amid a slight uptick in joblessness and lower participation levels.