In the month of November, the unemployment rate in the country has come down to its lowest level in 9 months.
The unemployment rate for people aged 15 and above fell to a record low of 4.7 percent in November 2025, compared to 5.2 percent in October 2025. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI), the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 4.7 percent in November 2025, the lowest since April 2025. The ministry further said that the rural unemployment rate fell to a new low of 3.9 percent in November 2025, while the urban unemployment rate declined to 6.5 percent, which is equal to its previous lowest level recorded in April 2025. The unemployment rate in April 2025 was 5.1 percent. According to the statement, overall, trends indicate strengthening labor market conditions due to increase in rural employment, increasing participation of women and gradual improvement in urban labor demand.
Unemployment reduced among both men and women
The ministry said it noted that the unemployment rate for both males and females aged 15 years and above saw a significant decline in November 2025. Among women, the unemployment rate declined to 4.8 percent in November 2025 from 5.4 percent in October 2025. This decline was due to a decline in the unemployment rate for women in both rural and urban areas, which declined from 4 percent to 3.4 percent and from 9.7 percent to 9.3 percent, respectively. Apart from this, the overall unemployment rate for men decreased to 4.6 percent in November 2025, whereas it was 5.1 percent in October 2025.
Unemployment reduced in both villages and cities
On region-wise analysis, the unemployment rates for rural and urban males stood at 4.1 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively in November 2025, compared to 4.6 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively in the previous month. A consistent and widespread decline was recorded in the unemployment rates for men, women and all individuals during April-November 2025. The decline was more pronounced in rural areas, where unemployment rates for both men and women reached their lowest levels in November. The unemployment rate remained high in urban areas, but improved by the end of the period.
Increase in women population ratio also
The Women Population Ratio (WPR) for persons aged 15 years and above showed a broadly improving trend in November 2025. The female labor rate (WPR) in rural areas increased from 55.4 percent in April 2025 to 56.3 percent in November 2025, while the overall WPR increased from 52.8 percent to 53.2 worker population ratio in the same period. WPR remained almost stable in urban areas. Notably, rural women WPR increased from 36.8 per cent in April 2025 to 38.4 per cent in November 2025, leading to an increase in overall women WPR from 32.5 per cent to 33.4 per cent during this period.
Increase seen in LFPR
An increase was observed in the total workforce, which increased from 51.2 percent in June 2025 to 53.2 percent in November 2025. The overall FLPR among persons aged 15 years and above increased to 55.8 per cent in November 2025, the highest level recorded since April 2025.
The increase in the labor force participation rate (LFPR) was mainly driven by rural areas, where it increased from 58.0 percent in April 2025 to 58.6 percent in November 2025. Compared to the previous month, rural LFPR increased from 57.8 per cent to 58.6 per cent, while urban LFPR declined marginally from 50.5 per cent to 50.4 per cent.
Overall, a steady increase was observed in female LFPR from June 2025 to November 2025. It increased from 32.0 percent to 35.1 percent during this period, mainly due to increase in labor force participation in rural areas, while urban female LFPR remained relatively stable. A steady increase was recorded in rural women labour-free delivery rate (LFPR), which increased from 35.2 per cent in June 2025 to 39.7 per cent in November 2025.
How many people were surveyed?
At the all-India level, the monthly estimates are based on information obtained from a survey of a total of 3,73,229 individuals. Worker Population Ratio (WPR) defines the proportion of employed people to the total population. Keeping in view the need for higher frequency labor force indicators, the sampling methodology of PLFS has been revised with effect from January 2025. Monthly bulletins have already been issued for the period from April to October 2025. This bulletin for November 2025 is the eighth bulletin of the series.