NSO Released Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Bulletin for September 2025: India’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.2%.

On October 15, 2025, the National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released the “Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin – September 2025.” The report highlights a marginal rise in India’s overall unemployment rate (UR) and provides key trends in labour participation and workforce ratios.

      - According to the PLFS September 2025 bulletin, India’s overall unemployment rate (UR) for individuals aged 15 years and above rose slightly to 5.2%, compared to 5.1% in August 2025. This uptick follows two consecutive months of decline in unemployment across the country.

      - The rural unemployment rate increased from 4.3% in August to 4.6% in September 2025, while the urban rate rose marginally from 6.7% to 6.8%. These changes indicate a slight dip in rural employment opportunities amid ongoing economic adjustments.

      - Female unemployment in urban areas climbed from 8.9% to 9.3%, pushing the overall female unemployment rate to 5.5% in September 2025. Male unemployment rates also rose slightly — from 4.5% to 4.7% in rural areas and 5.9% to 6.0% in urban areas.

Main Point :-   (i) The overall LFPR reached a five-month high of 55.3%, up from 54.2% in June 2025, marking the third consecutive monthly increase. Rural LFPR improved from 56.1% to 57.4%, while urban LFPR remained constant at 50.9%. Notably, female LFPR surged to 34.1%, the highest since May 2025, driven by rural workforce expansion.

      (ii) India’s Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for individuals aged 15 years and above stood at 52.4% in September 2025.

(iii) The rural WPR was 54.8%, reflecting stronger employment absorption than urban areas, where the WPR remained at 47.4%, indicating persistent urban job challenges despite steady participation levels.