Labour force participation of 15-year-plus group improves to 50.2% in urban areas in Jan-Mar 2024

For those aged between 15 and 29 years, the labour force participation rate came in at 40.7 percent, up from 39.4 percent from a year ago

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the labour participation rate in urban areas for those above 15 years of age was at 50.2 percent for the January-March 2024 period, up from 48.5 percent in January-March 2023.

For those aged between 15 and 29 years, the labour force participation rate came in at 40.7 percent, up from 39.4 percent from a year ago. Across all ages, the labour force participation rate was at 39.5 percent compared with 38.1 percent from January to March 2023.

The female labour force participation rate also inched up, to 25.6 percent from 22.7 percent for women above the age of 15. Across all age groups, the female labour force participation rate was at 20.3 percent in January-March 2024 versus 18 percent a year ago. Between the ages of 15 and 29, the female labour force participation rate was 21.3 percent versus 19.3 percent last year.

The unemployment rate in urban areas, according to the PLFS, was at 6.7 percent, lower than the 6.8 percent seen in January-March 2023 and higher than October-December’s 6.5 percent. For the 15-29 age group, the unemployment rate was 17 percent, versus 17.3 percent in January-March 2023.

Unemployment amongst women across all ages was down to 8.4 percent from 9.2 percent a year ago, and at 8.5 percent among women 15 years and above, down from 9.2 percent in January-March 2023.