The joblessness rate which had surged to double digit during the pandemic has improved significantly over the months as the curbs to prevent the spread of the virus were lifted and economic activity gathered pace and growth becoming broadbased.The PLFS data showed that the joblessness rate for males went down to 5.8% in April-June quarter from 6.1% in the January-March period, but was slightly lower than the 5.9% in the April-June quarter of 2023-24.
For females, the unemployment rate rose to 9% in the three months to June, higher than the 8.5% in the January-March quarter but marginally lower than the 9.1% recorded in April-June of 2023-24. Unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among those in the labour force.
The survey results also showed that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) in urban areas remained at near similar levels in April-June period of the current fiscal year at 50.1%, compared to 50.2% in the previous three-month period, but higher than the 48.8% in the April-June quarter of 2023-24.
For males the LFPR increased to 74.7% in April-June quarter of 2024-25 from 74.4% in the three months to March and higher than the 73.5% in April-June 2023-24, according to the data. LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force in the population.