Unemployment in India Rose to 5% in January, Rural Areas Driving the Increase

Unemployment in India rose to 5% in January, rural areas driving the increase

Seasonal factors, post-harvest slack, and discouragement effects played a key role.

India’s Unemployment Rate Rises To 5% In January 2026, Rural Areas See Seasonal Impact: PLFS

India’s unemployment rate among people aged 15 years and above increased slightly to 5% in January 2026, up from 4.8% in December 2025, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Monday. The government data indicated that joblessness rose marginally in both rural and urban areas, while labour force participation rate (LFPR) and worker population ratio (WPR) declined slightly du…