Labour force participation dips, unemployment rises in 2024: MoSPI report

India’s labour force participation dipped to 59.6 from 59.8 compared with the previous year.

India’s labour force participation declined, while unemployment rose in 2024, as more women exited the workforce, according to data released by the statistics ministry on April 9.

India’s labour force participation dipped to 59.6 from 59.8 compared with the previous year, as female participation reduced to 40.3 percent from 41.3 percent in 2023.

On the other hand, male labour force participation rose to 79.2 percent from 78.3 percent.

Both men and women witnessed an increase in unemployment during this period. Male unemployment rose to 3.3 percent from 3.2 percent, whereas women’s unemployment rate worsened to 3.1 percent from 3 percent.

The increase was primarily owing to a worsening of unemployment situation in rural areas. Women’s situation worsened as unemployment increased to 2.1 percent from 1.9 percent. In the case of rural male the increase was much less muted to 2.8 percent from 2.7 percent.

More women dropped out of the rural workforce during this period.

Agriculture performance was better in rural areas during 2024 compared with the previous year.

In urban areas, female labour force participation rose to 27.6 percent from 27.2 percent, while urban unemployment declined to 6.7 percent from 7.5 percent to 2023.

For urban male, unemployment rate was steady at 4.4 percent.

Urban unemployment rate was down to 5 percent from 5.2 percent earlier.