India’s unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above reached a six-year low of 3.2% during July 2022 to June 2023, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2022-2023 by the National Sample Survey Office. The report defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of unemployed persons in the labor force.
The survey, which began in April 2017 to provide more frequent labor force data, showed a steady decline in the unemployment rate over the past six years. It decreased from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2022-23.
The rural areas witnessed a significant drop from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.4% in 2022-23, while urban areas experienced a decrease from 7.7% to 5.4%. The male unemployment rate in India decreased from 6.1% to 3.3%, and the female rate decreased from 5.6% to 2.9% during the same period.
The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above increased from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 57.9% in 2022-23. The LFPR represents the percentage of persons in the labor force in the population.
In rural areas, the LFPR increased from 50.7% to 60.8%, while in urban areas, it increased from 47.6% to 50.4%. The LFPR for males rose from 75.8% to 78.5%, and for females, it increased from 23.3% to 37.0% during the same period.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in usual status (ps+ss) for individuals aged 15 and above also increased from 46.8% in 2017-18 to 56% in 2022-23. The WPR represents the percentage of employed persons in the population.
In rural areas, the WPR increased from 48.1% to 59.4%, while in urban areas, it increased from 43.9% to 47.7%. For males, the WPR rose from 71.2% to 76.0%, and for females, it increased from 22.0% to 35.9%.
The report is based on data collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted from July 2022 to June 2023. The survey aims to provide timely and accurate labor force information. While most data collection was completed on schedule, some regions faced disruptions and casualties, impacting data collection for Manipur during April-June 2023.
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