Lok Sabha Question No. 3167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Increase Unemployment Rate in the Country
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M.

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2026

## INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY

3167. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that according to a survey conducted by the Government the unemployment in the country rose in January 2026 in both rural and urban areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether it is true that the said survey has also revealed lower labour  force  participation  rate  as  well  as  workers  population
- ratio across rural and urban areas and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  CULTURE  [RAO INDERJIT SINGH]

- (a) and (b):  Based on the Periodic Labour  Force Survey (PLFS) conducted  by  the  National  Statistics  Office  (NSO),  the  monthly estimates  of  Labour  Force  Participation  Rate,  Worker  Population Ratio (WPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level for January  2026  as  compared  to  those  for  December  2025  and November 2025 are presented in Table below:

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| Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    | Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    | Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    | Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    | Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    | Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    | Estimates of labour force indicators (in per cent) in CWS for the age group 15 years and above at the all-India level    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Indicator                                                                                                                | January 2026                                                                                                             | January 2026                                                                                                             | December 2025                                                                                                            | December 2025                                                                                                            | November 2025                                                                                                            | November 2025                                                                                                            |
|                                                                                                                          | rural                                                                                                                    | urban                                                                                                                    | rural                                                                                                                    | urban                                                                                                                    | rural                                                                                                                    | urban                                                                                                                    |
| LFPR                                                                                                                     | 58.7                                                                                                                     | 50.3                                                                                                                     | 59.0                                                                                                                     | 50.2                                                                                                                     | 58.6                                                                                                                     | 50.4                                                                                                                     |
| WPR                                                                                                                      | 56.2                                                                                                                     | 46.8                                                                                                                     | 56.7                                                                                                                     | 46.8                                                                                                                     | 56.3                                                                                                                     | 47.1                                                                                                                     |
| UR                                                                                                                       | 4.2                                                                                                                      | 7.0                                                                                                                      | 3.9                                                                                                                      | 6.7                                                                                                                      | 3.9                                                                                                                      | 6.5                                                                                                                      |
| Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 | Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 | Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 | Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 | Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 | Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 | Source: Monthly Bulletin, PLFS January, 2026 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS December, 2025 Monthly Bulletin, PLFS November, 2025 |

The  decline  in  LFPR  and  WPR  and  rise  in  UR  in  January  2026  is primarily rural driven, with seasonal factors and post-harvest slack playing  a  key  role.  Many  activities  like  construction,  agriculture, allied work, transport, small trade, etc., slow down in winter. *****