India’s urban unemployment eased slightly to 6.6% in the Jan-March 2026 quarter, but rural unemployment climbed to 4.3%. Labour force participation edged down in both areas. Rural employment shifted too: regular wage work rose while self-employment fell, and agriculture’s share in rural jobs declined as secondary and tertiary sectors expanded.
India’s female employment is projected to rise to 39% by 2025, up sharply from 22% in 2017, according to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The Female Labour Force Participation Rate is also said to have climbed to 40%, signaling broader gains in women’s work participation and expanding opportunities.
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