Unemployment rate rises to 5.6 pc in May, female joblessness higher at 5.8pc
New Delhi, June 16 (PTI): The rate of unemployment in the country, measured in monthly term, rose to 5.6 per cent in May from 5.1 per cent in April this year mainly due to seasonal variation, showed the government data released on Monday.
Earlier last month, the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation released the first monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) as part of efforts to monitor the proportion of unemployed people among those eligible for jobs in the country in real-time.
The latest data collected in the current weekly status (CWS) showed that the unemployment rate (UR) for persons of all ages during May 2025 rose to 5.6 per cent from 5.1 per cent in April 2025.
The pace of joblessness among females was higher at 5.8 per cent compared to 5.6 per cent in males at the country level in May 2025.
Joblessness among those in the age group of 15-29 increased to 15 per cent in May from 13.8 per cent in April 2025 across the country.
The rate of unemployment in urban areas rose to 17.9 per cent in May from 17.2 per cent in April, while it was 13.7 per cent in the month under review up from 12.3 per cent in the previous month in rural areas.
CWS refers to the activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 7 days preceding the date of the survey.
In rural areas, employment shifted away from the primary sector (agriculture) (from 45.9 per cent in April to 43.5 per cent in May 2025) to the secondary and services sectors, it noted.
Reduction in agricultural activities with the end of Rabi harvest season for both males and females in the rural areas may have brought about the downward shift in number of workers, it stated.
In urban areas, changes were more marginal with slight declines in own account workers and casual labourers, affecting workforce numbers, it stated.
The study further showed that the unemployment rate (UR) among women in the age group of 15-29 also increased to 16.3 per cent in May from 14.4 per cent in April across the country (rural+urban).
The joblessness rate also increased to 24.7 per cent in May from 23.7 in cities in April and to 13 per cent in the month from 10.7 per cent in villages in April.
Joblessness among men aged 15-29 years was recorded at 14.5 per cent in May from 13.6 per cent in the country.
It also increased to 15.8 per cent in May from 15 per cent in cities in April and rose to 14 per cent from 13 per cent in villages.
The data also showed that Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) among people aged 15 years and above dipped to 54.8 per cent in May 55.6 per cent during April 2025.
The participation rate in rural areas also came down to 56.9 per cent in May from 58 per cent in April and also declined to 50.4 per cent in the month from 50.7 per cent in urban areas.
LFPR among males aged 15 years and above also came down to 78.3 per cent in May from 79 per cent in April.
A decline in female LFPR, especially in rural areas (more than 1 percentage point) was due to fewer women working as casual labourers and unpaid helpers, it stated.
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, it explained.
Similarly in urban areas, it also dipped to 75.1 per cent in May from 75.3 per cent in April 2025.
Among females aged 15 years and above, the rate of labour force participation also declined to 36.9 per cent in May from 38.2 per cent for rural areas during April 2025.
The LFPR for women aged 15 years and above in urban areas declined to 25.3 per cent in May from 25.7 per cent in April this year.
LFPR refers to the percentage of persons in labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
Worker Population Ratio (WPR) defines the proportion of those who are employed among total population.
WPR in rural areas among those aged 15 years and above also dipped to 54.1 per cent in May from 55.4 per cent in April 2025, the data showed.
The ratio in urban areas was also lower at 46.9 per cent in May from 47.4 per cent in April.
The overall WPR at the national level was recorded at 51.7 per cent in May lower than 52.8 per cent in April 2025.
WPR among females aged 15 years and above in rural also declined to 35.2 per cent in May from 36.8 per cent in April this year and to 23 per cent in the month from 23.5 per cent.
The overall female WPR of the same age group at the country level also came down to 31.3 per cent in May from 32.5 per cent in April 2025.
Considering the need for high-frequency labour force indicators with enhanced coverage, the sampling methodology of PLFS has been revamped from January 2025.
Across the country, a total of 7,511 first-stage sampling units were surveyed during May 2025.
The number of households surveyed was 89,372 (49,267 in rural areas and 40,105 in urban areas) and a number of persons surveyed was 3,79,600 (2,16,542 in rural areas and 1,63,058 in urban areas).
The labour force survey has been released quarterly as well as annual basis so far.
The statistics ministry explained that 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, it stated.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
