Rural job demand falls sharply as monsoon pulls workers back to farms

Demand for rural jobs under India's flagship public employment programme fell to a 10-month low in July as the onset of the monsoon season pulled millions of workers back to the fields, suggesting both seasonal shifts and early signs of rural economic resilience.

- Rhik Kundu

About 16.6 million households sought work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in July, according to data from the ministry of rural development. That's down from 27.56 million in June, 28.38 million in May, and 20.12 million in April.

The July decline reflects a typical mid-year dip when agricultural activity tied to kharif sowing temporarily absorbs labour from public works. The fall also underscores the cyclical nature of rural livelihoods, where demand for government-backed employment often mirrors fluctuations in farm activity. Still, the national headline numbers mask sharp regional disparities and continued reliance on MGNREGA in several states.