Unemployment rate rises slightly in April-June quarter

Why in news?

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for the April-June 2026 quarter shows a marginal increase in the unemployment rate to 5.4%, along with a decline in the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR).

Key points

1. 1Unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points to 5.4% in April-June 2026.
2. 2Rural unemployment rate was 4.8%, while urban unemployment rate rose to 6.7%.
3. 3Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) declined to 54.6% from 55.5% in the previous quarter.
4. 4Share of regular wage and salaried employees increased in both rural and urban areas.
5. 5Employment in the secondary and tertiary sectors saw an increase, especially in rural areas.

Background & context

The PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to measure labour force indicators in the country. It provides estimates on employment and unemployment at national, rural, and urban levels.