Unemployment Inches Up in 2024, Women Workers Drop

Female unemployment rate in urban areas fell to 6.7%, while in rural regions it rose to 2.1%

- Rhik Kundu

India's overall unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above increased slightly during calendar year 2024. Additionally, labor force participation dropped, with more women leaving the workforce compared to the previous year, according to the government's periodic labor force survey (PLFS) released on Wednesday.

The data released by the ministry of statistics and program implementation (MoSPI) showed that the unemployment rate, including urban and rural areas, rose marginally from 3.1% in 2023 to 3.2% in 2024.

The unemployment rate in rural areas rose from 2.4% to 2.5%, while in urban areas it fell from 5.2% to 5%.

Female unemployment rate in urban areas fell from 7.5% to 6.7%, while in rural regions it rose from 1.9% to 2.1%.

During the same period, male unemployment rate in rural areas rose from 2.7% to 2.8%, while male unemployment rate in urban areas remained flat at 4.4%.