India's labour market displayed encouraging signs of strength in November, with the unemployment rate for the population aged 15 years and above declining to an eight-month low. According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) bulletin, the joblessness rate eased to 4.7% in November, down from 5.2% recorded in the previous month of October.
Broad-Based Decline Across Rural and Urban Areas
The data, released by the statistics office on Monday, reveals a widespread improvement. The most significant gains were witnessed in rural India, where the unemployment rate plummeted to a new record low of 3.9%. In urban areas, the rate decreased to 6.5%, matching its previous lowest level which was last seen in April 2025 when the monthly PLFS bulletins commenced.
The positive trend was consistent across genders as well. The unemployment rate for females aged 15 and above fell to 4.8% in November from 5.4% in October. This reduction was led by improvements in both rural and urban segments, where female joblessness decreased from 4% to 3.4% and from 9.7% to 9.3%, respectively.
Similarly, the overall male unemployment rate slowed to 4.6% in November, compared to 5.1% in October. A sectoral breakdown shows rural male joblessness at 4.1% and urban male joblessness at 5.6% for November, down from 4.6% and 6.1% the previous month.
Labour Force Participation Reaches Seven-Month High
Complementing the drop in unemployment was a rise in the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR). The overall LFPR for the 15+ age group increased to 55.8% in November, marking the highest level since April 2025. This increase was largely propelled by rural areas, where the LFPR rose to 58.6% in November from 58.0% in April. Compared to October, the rural LFPR increased from 57.8%, while the urban LFPR saw a marginal dip from 50.5% to 50.4%.
Official Statement Points to Strengthening Market
The statistics office highlighted the steady and broad-based nature of the decline in a statement. "Unemployment rates showed a steady and broad-based decline across male, females, and all persons during April-November 2025. The fall was more pronounced in rural areas, where both male and female unemployment reached their lowest levels in November," the office noted.
It further added, "Urban unemployment remained higher but showed improvement towards the end of the period. Overall, the trends suggest strengthening labour market conditions, supported by gains in rural employment, rising female participation, and a gradual recovery in urban labour demand."
The consistent improvement over the April-November period indicates a resilient labour market recovery. The dual achievement of lower unemployment and higher participation, especially among women and in rural economies, provides a positive outlook for India's economic landscape as the year draws to a close.
