Urban Unemployment Rate Slightly Decreases to 6.6% in March Quarter
Urban unemployment rate eases marginally to 6.6% in March quarter
Business StandardImage: Business Standard
The urban unemployment rate in India has decreased marginally to 6.6% in the March 2026 quarter, down from 6.7% in the previous quarter. The Periodic Labour Force Survey indicates a stable labor market, with a notable increase in rural employment in the secondary sector.
- 01Urban unemployment rate fell to 6.6% from 6.7% in the previous quarter.
- 02Rural unemployment increased slightly to 4.3% from 4.0%.
- 03Regular wage/salaried employment in rural areas rose to 15.5%.
- 04Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained steady at 55.5%.
- 05Overall Worker Population Ratio (WPR) declined to 52.8%.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistics Office, the urban unemployment rate in India has decreased to 6.6% for the March 2026 quarter, down from 6.7% in the October-December 2025 quarter. This marks a continuation of a declining trend in urban joblessness. In contrast, the rural unemployment rate edged up slightly to 4.3% from 4.0%. The survey, which included data from 561,822 individuals aged 15 and above, indicated that regular wage employment in rural areas increased to 15.5%, while the share of self-employed individuals decreased to 62.5%. The overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained stable at 55.5%, with urban LFPR at 50.2%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) also saw a slight decline to 52.8% from 53.1% in the previous quarter, indicating a stable labor market despite minor fluctuations in employment status across sectors.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The marginal decrease in urban unemployment may provide some relief to job seekers in cities, while the slight rise in rural unemployment highlights ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you think the government should implement more job creation programs?
Connecting to poll...
More about National Statistics Office
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.






