Urban unemployment rate slipped marginally to 6.6% in the January-March quarter, as compared to 6.7% in the preceding three-month period, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation on Monday
Regular wage, or salaried employment, in rural areas witnessed an increase during the quarter, rising to 15.5% from 14.8%. “Share of rural employment for persons (15+ years) in both secondary and tertiary sectors recorded an increase in January-March, 2026,” the government stated in an official release.
It further stated that the secondary and tertiary sector employment recorded an increase in rural areas. Rural regular wage/salaried employees witnessed a rise.
As per the government release, the overall Labour Force Participation Rate for persons (15+ years) reported as 55.5% in January-March 2026 compared to 55.8% in the previous quarter.
Urban unemployment rate slipped marginally to 6.6% in the January-March quarter, as compared to 6.7% in the preceding three-month period, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation on Monday
Regular wage, or salaried employment, in rural areas witnessed an increase during the quarter, rising to 15.5% from 14.8%. “Share of rural employment for persons (15+ years) in both secondary and tertiary sectors recorded an increase in January-March, 2026,” the government stated in an official release.
It further stated that the secondary and tertiary sector employment recorded an increase in rural areas. Rural regular wage/salaried employees witnessed a rise.
As per the government release, the overall Labour Force Participation Rate for persons (15+ years) reported as 55.5% in January-March 2026 compared to 55.8% in the previous quarter.
Share of rural employment for persons (15+ years) in both secondary and tertiary sectors recorded an increase in January-March 2026, as per the data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.
Urban UR for persons (15+ years) showed a declining trend, as per the government statistics according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by NSO, MoSPI, which is the primary source of data on activity participation and employment-unemployment conditions of the population.
The PLFS survey methodology has been modified from January, 2025 to provide monthly and quarterly estimates of labour force indicators for both rural and urban India under the CWS framework.