NEW DELHI — India’s female labor force participation and worker population ratio reached their highest levels of the year in December 2025, according to the latest government data released Thursday.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), revealed that the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 and above rose to 35.3% in December. This marks a sustained increase from mid-year levels, edging up from 35.1% recorded in November.
Overall labor force participation across all genders reached a yearly peak of 56.1%, maintaining an upward momentum that began in June 2025.
Workforce Participation Trends
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) also hit a yearly high of 53.4% in December. In rural areas, workforce participation for both men and women saw significant gains, reaching 76.0% and 38.6%, respectively. While rural employment grew, urban areas saw a slight dip in male participation, which fell to 70.4% from 70.9% the previous month.
Unemployment Stability
The national unemployment rate remained broadly stable, estimated at 4.8% in December compared to 4.7% in November. Notable findings regarding unemployment include:
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Rural Stability: The rural unemployment rate remained stagnant and low at 3.9%.
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Urban Female Progress: The jobless rate for urban females moderated to 9.1%, down from a yearly high of 9.7% recorded in October.
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Urban Shift: The urban unemployment rate saw a marginal increase to 6.7% from 6.5% in November.
Survey Methodology
The findings are part of the ninth monthly bulletin in a series that began in early 2025 to provide more frequent labor market updates. The December data is based on a survey of 373,990 individuals across India, including more than 213,000 in rural areas and 160,000 in urban sectors.
The survey utilizes the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach to estimate key indicators including participation, employment, and unemployment conditions.
