Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports unemployment rise to 5.1% in March

Key facts

• The unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in March, up from 4.9% in February.
• Women faced a higher unemployment rate of 5.3% compared to 5.0% for men in March.
• Urban unemployment increased to 6.8% in March from 6.6% in February.
• Rural unemployment edged up to 4.3% in March from 4.2% in February.
• Youth unemployment (ages 15-29) rose to 15.2% in March, up from 14.8% in February.
• Young men's unemployment rate increased to 14.3% in March from 13.7% in February.
• Young women's unemployment rate inched up to 17.7% in March from 17.6% in February.
• The survey covered 89,234 households and 375,262 individuals across rural and urban areas.
• The labour force participation rate (LFPR) slipped to 55.4% in March, down from 55.9% in February.
• Male LFPR dipped marginally to 77.4% in March from 77.5% in February.
• Female LFPR fell to 34.4% in March, down from 35.3% in February.
• Urban LFPR fell to 50.3% in March, down from 50.4% in February.
• Rural LFPR declined to 58.0% in March, down from 58.7% in February.
• Youth LFPR dropped to 41.6% in March, down from 42.1% in February.
• Young men's LFPR fell to 60.9% in March, down from 61.2% in February.
• Young women's LFPR declined to 22.3% in March, down from 23.1% in February.
• The worker population ratio (WPR) decreased to 52.6% in March, down from 53.2% in February.
• Male WPR slipped to 73.6% in March.
• Female WPR slipped to 32.6% in March.