Urban labour force participation rate rises marginally, rural unemployment sees slight decline from 2023 to 2024

ANI April 10, 2025 172 views

India's labour market shows subtle shifts in workforce dynamics for 2024. Urban areas experienced a marginal increase in labour force participation, with male participation rising more significantly than female participation. Rural unemployment saw a slight decline, indicating potential economic stabilization. The national unemployment rate marginally improved, suggesting modest progress in employment opportunities across the country.

"The national unemployment rate improved slightly from 5.0 per cent to 4.9 per cent" - Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
New Delhi, April 10: The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in urban areas saw a marginal increase, while the rural unemployment slightly decreased between 2023 and 2024, according to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation on Wednesday.

Key Points

1

Urban male labour participation increased from 74.3% to 75.6%

2

Female urban workforce participation rose from 25.5% to 25.8%

3

Rural unemployment marginally decreased from 4.3% to 4.2%

4

National labour force participation remained stable at 59.6%

New Delhi [India], April 10 (ANI): The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in urban areas saw a marginal increase, while the rural unemployment slightly decreased between 2023 and 2024, according to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation on Wednesday.

The data revealed that LFPR in urban areas saw a marginal increase, with male participation rising from 74.3 per cent in 2023 to 75.6 per cent in 2024.

Female participation also saw a slight uptick from 25.5 per cent to 25.8 per cent. As a result, the overall LFPR in urban areas increased from 50.3 per cent to 51.0 per cent. However, the national LFPR remained largely unchanged at 59.6 per cent, down slightly from 59.8 per cent in 2023, the data revealed.

Worker Population Ratio (WPR) also showed improvements in urban areas, increasing from 47.0 per cent to 47.6 per cent. At the national level, however, WPR remained stable, with only a slight decrease from 58.0 per cent to 57.7 per cent, indicating a small dip in employment despite stable participation rates.

On the other hand, the data reveals that the unemployment rate saw minor fluctuations across different areas. Rural unemployment slightly decreased from 4.3 per cent to 4.2 per cent, with reductions for both males and females.

In urban areas, male unemployment rose slightly from 6.0 per cent to 6.1 per cent, while female unemployment dropped from 8.9 per cent to 8.2 per cent. The overall urban unemployment rate remained stable at 6.7 per cent.

At the national level, the unemployment rate improved slightly from 5.0 per cent to 4.9 per cent, which suggests minor progress in employment opportunities in the country, the data suggests.

The data shows a decline in unpaid helpers in household enterprises, especially among rural females, contributed to a decrease in LFPR in rural areas, where the percentage of helpers in Household Enterprises fell from 19.9 per cent to 18.1 per cent.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Interesting data! The slight increase in female participation is good to see, though we still have a long way to go for gender parity in the workforce. Hope this trend continues upward! 👍
P
Priya M.
As someone from a rural background, I'm happy to see unemployment decreasing in villages. But I wonder if these small changes actually make a difference in people's daily lives? The numbers seem too marginal.
A
Amit S.
The urban male unemployment increase is concerning. With so many graduates entering the job market each year, we need more substantial improvements. The government should focus on creating quality jobs, not just any jobs.
S
Sunita R.
Happy to see female unemployment dropping in cities! 👏 More women in the workforce means more economic growth. Hope this encourages more companies to create women-friendly workplaces.
V
Vikram J.
While the numbers show minor improvements, I'd like to see the breakdown by sectors and age groups. Are these jobs sustainable or just gig economy positions? The quality of employment matters as much as quantity.
N
Neha P.
The decrease in unpaid helpers is significant! Many women in villages work without pay in family businesses. This change suggests more formal recognition of their work. Small step but important one 💪

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Tags:
Labour Force Participation Urban Employment Rural Unemployment Indian Economy Ministry of Statistics
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