Labour Participation Rate Hits Record 60.1% in Urban India, Employment on the Rise
New Delhi, September 23: The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above in India’s urban areas reached a record 60.1% in the July 2023-June 2024 period, a significant increase from 57.9% in the previous year (July 2022-June 2023), according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
The LFPR for women in this age group rose notably, from 37% in the July 2022-June 2023 period to 41.7% in July 2023-June 2024. For men, the LFPR showed a modest increase, from 78.5% to 78.8% during the same time frame.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for individuals aged 15 and above also grew, standing at 58.2% during the current reporting period. Among women, the WPR rose from 35.9% in the previous year to 40.3%, while the overall WPR increased from 56.0% to 58.2%.
Unemployment rates (UR) for individuals aged 15 and above stood at 3.2% for both men and women in the July 2023-June 2024 period. While the unemployment rate for men saw a slight decline from 3.3% to 3.2%, the rate for women increased from 2.9% to 3.2% over the same period.
In rural areas, the LFPR rose from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 63.7% in 2023-24. In urban areas, it increased from 47.6% to 52%. The LFPR for men in India increased from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.8% in 2023-24, while for women, the participation rate saw a substantial rise from 23.3% to 41.7%, reflecting growing female participation in the workforce.
The LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force—either working, seeking, or available for work—in the total population. The WPR, on the other hand, represents the percentage of employed persons in the population.
This growth in both LFPR and WPR indicates a strengthening job market in India’s urban areas, with higher female participation playing a key role.
