Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
Context
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July–September 2025 was released by the Labour Bureau.
- The survey covers persons aged 15 years and above, analysing employment, unemployment, and sectoral distribution across rural and urban India.
Key Findings
- Overall unemployment rate declined to 5.2% from 5.4% in the previous quarter (April–June 2025).
- In rural areas, unemployment dropped from 4.8% to 4.4%, showing better seasonal absorption.
- In contrast, urban unemployment rose slightly — 6.1% to 6.2% for males and 8.9% to 9.0% for females.
Employment Patterns
- Self-employment dominated in rural areas, rising to 62.8% from 60.7% in the previous quarter.
- In urban areas, regular wage/salaried employment increased marginally to 49.8% from 49.4%.
- The survey estimated 56.2 crore employed persons (15 years and above) — 39.6 crore males and 16.6 crore females.
Sectoral Employment Trends
- The agriculture sector remained the largest employer in rural areas, accounting for 57.7% of the workforce.
- This share rose from 53.5% in April–June 2025 due to seasonal agricultural activities.
- In urban areas, the tertiary sector continued to dominate, employing 62% of workers, up from 61.7%.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
- Female LFPR (aged 15+) increased to 33.7% from 33.4% in the previous quarter.
- In rural areas, female LFPR improved from 37.0% to 37.5%, indicating rising engagement in farm work.