Joblessness rate among 15+ down marginally to 4.9% in 2024: Report

NEW DELHI: The unemployment rate among those in the 15 years and above age group dipped to 4.9% in 2024 from 5% in the previous financial year, according to the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey ( PLFS ) report released on Wednesday.

In rural areas, there was marginal decline in overall unemployment (from 4.3% to 4.2%), with slight reductions for both men and women. In urban areas, the unemployment rate among males rose from 6.0% to 6.1%, but among females declined from 8.9% to 8.2%. The overall urban rate was stable at 6.7%, according to ministry of statistics and programme implementation (Mospi).

Under principal and subsidiary status, unemployment rate in 2024 inched up to 3.2% from 3.1% in the previous year.

In urban areas, labour force participation rate ( LFPR ) under the current weekly status increased for males (74.3% in 2023 to 75.6% in 2024) and slightly for females (25.5% to 25.8%), leading to an overall rise in LFPR (50.3% to 51.0%). Overall, LFPR remained constant at 56.2%, despite minor variations across categories.

The report also showed marginal improvements, across all categories, in overall worker participation rate (47.0% to 47.6%) in urban areas. At the all-India level, overall WPR remained relatively unchanged (53.4% to 53.5%). tnn