Jobless rate hits six-year low of 3.2%: NSSO

India’s unemployment rate has hit a six-year low 3.2% during July 2022-June 2023 from 4.1% during 2021-22, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2022-2023. The report has been released by the National Sample Survey Office. The NSSO launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.
The Unemployment Rate (UR) in usual status for persons of age 15 years and above at the all-India level came down to 3.2 per cent in 2022-23.
The usual status means that the employment (status of a person) is based on the reference period of 365 days preceding the date of the survey.
“In rural areas, UR decreased from 5.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 2.4 per cent in 2022-23 while for urban areas it decreased from 7.7 per cent to 5.4 per cent. The UR for male in India decreased from 6.1 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.3 per cent in 2022-23 and corresponding decrease in UR for females was from 5.6 per cent to 2.9 per cent,” it stated.

The survey also showed that the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in usual status for persons of age 15 years and above increased to 57.9 per cent from 49.8 per cent in 2017-18.
The LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force — working or seeking or available for work — in the population.
“In rural areas, LFPR increased from 50.7 per cent in 2017-18 to 60.8 per cent in 2022-23 while for urban areas it increased from 47.6 per cent to 50.4 per cent. The LFPR for male in India increased from 75.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 78.5 per cent in 2022-23 and corresponding increase in LFPR for female was from 23.3 per cent to 37.0 per cent,” it stated.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in usual status also increased to 56 per cent in 2022-23 from 46.8 per cent in 2017-18.
Five Annual Reports are brought out on the basis of the data collected in PLFS during July 2017-June 2018, July 2018-June 2019, July 2019-June 2020, July 2020-June 2021 and July 2021-June 2022.
Now the sixth annual report has been brought out by the NSSO on the basis of the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted during July 2022-June 2023.
(With inputs from agencies)