The latest data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) indicates that the unemployment rate in urban areas has seen a notable reduction, dropping to 6.6% during April-June 2023 from the previous year’s 7.6%. The surge in unemployment during the same period in the previous year was primarily attributed to the impact of Covid-related restrictions. Concurrently, the labor force participation rate has registered an uptick, rising to 48.8% from the preceding year’s 47.5%.
According to data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above in urban areas has diminished to 6.6% in April-June 2023, down from 7.6% in the corresponding period the previous year. The unemployment rate quantifies the percentage of individuals who are without employment within the labor force.
The surge in joblessness during April-June 2022 can be largely attributed to the severe repercussions of Covid-related restrictions that were implemented across the country.
The 19th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) revealed that the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 years and above in urban areas stood at 7.6% during April-June 2022.
During the period of January-March 2023, the unemployment rate was recorded at 6.8%. Similarly, it was noted at 7.2% in July-September 2022 and remained consistent at the same level for October-December 2022.
The data further demonstrates that the unemployment rate among females aged 15 years and above in urban areas has decreased to 9.1% in April-June 2023 from 9.5% during the same quarter in the preceding year. It stood at 9.2% in January-March 2023, 9.6% in October-December 2022, and 9.4% in July-September 2022.
In contrast, the unemployment rate among males in urban areas has declined to 5.9% in April-June 2023 compared to 7.1% in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. It was recorded at 6% in January-March 2023, 6.5% in October-December 2022, and 6.6% in July-September 2022.
The labor force participation rate in Current Weekly Status (CWS) for individuals aged 15 years and above in urban areas has seen an increase, reaching 48.8% in April-June 2023, compared to the previous year’s 47.5%. In January-March 2023, it was noted at 48.5%, 48.2% in October-December 2022, and 47.9% in July-September 2022.
The term “labor force” encompasses the section of the population that is actively engaged in or willing to participate in economic activities for the production of goods and services. This category includes both employed and unemployed individuals.
The NSSO introduced the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017, which forms the basis of this analysis. The PLFS offers a quarterly bulletin, presenting estimates of labor force indicators, including the unemployment rate, Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), distribution of workers by employment status, and industry of work in Current Weekly Status (CWS).
In Current Weekly Status (CWS) in urban areas, the Worker Population Ratio (WPR), expressed as a percentage, reached 45.5% during April-June 2023, showing an increase from the previous year’s 43.9%. This ratio was recorded at 45.2% in January-March 2023, 44.7% in October-December 2022, and 44.5% in July-September 2022.
The present quarterly bulletin marks the 19th release in the series, covering the period from April to June 2023.
