In a major policy shift, the Government of India has started publishing monthly employment and unemployment statistics to enable real-time tracking of the labour market. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reported that India’s national unemployment rate (UR) stood at 5.1% in April 2025 for individuals aged 15 and above.
Youth & Urban Joblessness Remain High
While the overall figure offers moderate optimism, youth unemployment (ages 15–29) was alarmingly high at 13.8%, with urban youth joblessness reaching 17.2%, compared to 12.3% in rural areas. Gender disparities were also stark:
- Women aged 15–29: 14.4% unemployed
- Urban: 23.7%
- Rural: 10.7%
- Men aged 15–29: 13.6% unemployed
- Urban: 15%
- Rural: 13%
Labour Force Participation Rate at 55.6%
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) was 55.6% nationwide. Rural India showed higher engagement at 58.0%, compared to 50.7% in urban areas.
- Men:
- Rural LFPR: 79.0%
- Urban LFPR: 75.3%
- Women:
- Rural LFPR: 38.2%
- Urban LFPR: Significantly lower
Worker Population Ratio Shows Gender Gap
India’s Worker Population Ratio (WPR)—the proportion of the working-age population that is actually employed—stood at 52.8%.
- Rural WPR: 55.4%
- Urban WPR: 47.4%
- Female WPR:
- Overall: 32.5%
- Rural: 36.8%
- Urban: Just 23.5%
Why This Monthly Report Matters
Earlier, employment data in India was published quarterly or annually, making timely policy responses difficult. The new Current Weekly Status (CWS) method used for monthly estimates captures employment activity over the past seven days, offering granular, up-to-date snapshots of India’s job market.
Conclusion
The April 2025 data marks a new era in India’s employment tracking, but the numbers also expose deep-rooted issues: high youth unemployment, persistent gender gaps, and urban-rural inequalities. Policymakers now have more frequent data to inform employment schemes and workforce planning.