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India's jobless rate hits 5-month high in March
15 Apr
Summary
- India's unemployment rate reached 5.1% in March, a five-month peak.
- Urban areas saw a notable rise in unemployment, driving the increase.
- Youth unemployment also increased, reaching 15.2% for those aged 15-29.
As of April 15, 2026, India's unemployment rate reached a five-month high of 5.1% in March. This increase was predominantly driven by a rise in unemployment within urban areas, which edged up to 6.8% from 6.6% in February.
Women continue to experience higher unemployment rates than men, standing at 5.3% compared to 5% for males. The youth demographic, aged 15-29, also saw an increase in joblessness, with the rate rising to 15.2% in March.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, covering individuals aged 15 and above actively seeking work, indicated a slight dip in the labour force participation rate to 55.4% in March. The worker population ratio also decreased to 52.6% during the same period.
