India, June 16 -- The Government of India issued the following news release:

Key findings Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) among persons of age 15 years and above was 54.8% during May 2025 as compared to 55.6% during April, 2025. LFPR in rural areas was 56.9% and LFPR in urban areas was 50.4% during May, 2025 for persons of the same age group. LFPR in CWS for male of age 15 years and above in rural and urban areas were respectively 78.3% and 75.1% during May, 2025 which marked a marginal decline from the corresponding LFPR estimates of 79.0% and 75.3% respectively for rural and urban areas during April, 2025. LFPR among female of age 15 years and above for rural areas was 36.9% during May, 2025. Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in CWS in rural areas among persons of age 15 years and above was 54.1% during May, 2025. WPR in urban areas among persons of the same age group was 46.9% in May 2025 with the overall WPR at the country level observed as 51.7% during May, 2025 as compared to 52.8% observed during April, 2025. WPR for female of age 15 years and above for rural and urban areas were respectively 35.2% and 23.0% in May, 2025 and the overall female WPR of the same age group at the country level was observed as 31.3%. Unemployment Rate (UR) in CWS among persons of age 15 years and above has increased to 5.6% in May, 2025 from 5.1% in April, 2025. The female UR was a touch higher at 5.8% compared to the male UR of 5.6% at the country level during May, 2025. Key findings and survey methodologies are given at Annexure I and II Brief on the results of PLFS Monthly Bulletin for May, 2025 Changes are expected in the monthly PLFS ratios due to increased frequency and seasonal changes but do not necessarily reflect secular trends. There would be attributable to a combination of seasonal, academic and labour market-related factors. In rural areas, employment shifted away from the primary sector (agriculture) (from 45.9% in April to 43.5% in May 2025) to secondary and services sectors. Decline in female LFPR, especially in rural areas (more than 1 percentage point) due to fewer women working as casual labourers and unpaid helpers. Reduction in agricultural activities with the end of Rabi harvest season for both male and female in the rural areas may have brought about the downward shift in number of workers. In urban areas, changes were more marginal with slight declines in own account workers and casual labourers, affecting workforce numbers. The decline in LFPR and WPR and the rise in UR were driven largely by seasonal agricultural patterns, higher summer temperature experienced in May in some parts of the country due to which physical outdoor work gets limited and movement of some unpaid helpers to domestic chores, especially in the higher income (top 3 decile) rural households. Annexure - I

Key Findings of PLFS, Monthly Bulletin (May 2025)

Table Omitted (The document can be viewed at https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2136692 )

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