**Executive Summary**
This report from the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, dated 15 JAN 2026, presents the findings of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for December 2025. It analyzes key labour market indicators such as Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above. The full report is available on the Ministry's website.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Overall Labour Market Trends:**
* Overall LFPR continued its upward trend since June 2025, reaching 56.1% in December 2025.
* Overall WPR showed recovery after a decline in June 2025, reaching 53.4% in December 2025.
* The overall UR remained broadly stable at 4.8% in December 2025, compared to 4.7% in November 2025.
* **Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):**
* Female LFPR recorded a yearly high of 35.3% in December 2025.
* Rural LFPR was estimated at 59.0% in December 2025, compared to 58.6% in November 2025.
* Rural female LFPR continued its gradual rise, reaching 40.1% in December 2025, up from 39.7% in November 2025.
* **Worker Population Ratio (WPR):**
* Rural male WPR edged up to 76.0% in December 2025, while urban male WPR declined to 70.4%.
* Rural female WPR rose marginally to 38.6% in December 2025.
* Urban female WPR was around 23.0%, leading to an overall female WPR of 33.6% in December 2025.
* **Unemployment Rate (UR):**
* Rural UR remained stagnant at 3.9% in December 2025.
* Urban female UR moderated to 9.1% in December 2025.
* **Survey Scope:**
* The all-India level estimates are based on information collected from a total of 3,73,990 persons surveyed.
* 2,13,216 persons were surveyed in rural areas.
* 1,60,774 persons were surveyed in urban areas.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government (Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation):**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for collecting and disseminating data on labour market indicators through the PLFS.
* **Action Required:** Continue conducting and publishing the PLFS to monitor and inform policy decisions related to employment and unemployment.
**Policymakers and Economists:**
* **Impact:** These stakeholders rely on PLFS data to understand trends in labour force participation, employment, and unemployment, which informs economic analysis and policy formulation.
* **Action Required:** Analyze the PLFS data to assess the effectiveness of existing policies and develop new strategies to promote employment and reduce unemployment.
**Citizens/General Public:**
* **Impact:** This data provides insights into the job market and economic opportunities available.
* **Action Required:** Remain informed on current job market trends.
Key Entities Referenced
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A survey conducted by NSO, MoSPI that is the primary source of data on activity participation and employment and unemployment conditions of the population.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The ministry under which the NSO conducts the PLFS.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): One of the key labour market indicators presented in the Monthly Bulletins of PLFS.
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): One of the key labour market indicators presented in the Monthly Bulletins of PLFS.
Unemployment Rate (UR): One of the key labour market indicators presented in the Monthly Bulletins of PLFS.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Female LFPR and WPR recorded a yearly high in
December, 2025 Overall Unemployment Rate
broadly stable
प्रव तथ: 15 JAN 2026 4:00PM by PIB Delhi
Snapshot:
Overall LFPR for persons aged 15 years and above continued its upward trend since June,
2025 and stood at 56.1% in December, 2025.
Female LFPR, in the age group 15 years and above, recorded a sustained increase since
June, 2025 and stood at 35.3% in December 2025, marking the highest level observed
during the year.
Following a decline in June, 2025, the overall WPR for persons of age 15 years and above,
showed a sustained recovery and reached its yearly peak of 53.4% in December, 2025.
In the age group 15 years and above, rural male and female workforce participation
increased in December 2025, reaching 76.0% and 38.6%, respectively.
UR for persons aged 15 years and above was at 4.8% in December, 2025, compared to 4.7%
in November, 2025.
Urban female UR witnessed decline to 9.1% in December, 2025 from its yearly highest level
of 9.7% observed in October, 2025, in the age group 15 years and above.
A. Introduction
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by NSO, MoSPI, is the primary source of data on
activity participation and employment and unemployment conditions of the population. The PLFS survey
methodology has been modified from January, 2025 to provide monthly and quarterly estimates of labour
force indicators for the country.
Monthly results of PLFS are released in the form of Monthly Bulletins. It presents estimates of key labour
market indicators viz. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and
Unemployment Rate (UR) at the all-India level following the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach.
The Monthly Bulletins for April, 2025 to November, 2025 have already been released. The present
Monthly Bulletin for December, 2025 is the ninth in the series.
Key findings for persons of age 15 years and above following CWS:
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) maintains upward momentum:
The overall LFPR among persons of age 15 years and above showed upward trend. The overall LFPR
observed as 56.1% in December, 2025 compared to 55.8% in November, 2025 . In rural areas, the
LFPR estimated as 59.0% in December, 2025 in comparison to 58.6% in November, 2025. The urbanLFPR experienced a slight dip to 50.2% from 50.4% during this period.
Overall LFPR rises to a yearly peak at 56.1% in December, 2025
Female labour force participation climbed to yearly high:
In December 2025, overall labour force participation for female of age 15 years and above edged up to
35.3% from 35.1% in November, 2025. In rural areas, it witnessed an increase to 40.1% during
December, 2025 from 39.7% in the previous month and in urban areas, it slipped slightly to 25.3% in
December, 2025 from 25.5% in November, 2025.
Rural female LFPR continued its gradual rise, reaching 40.1% in December, 2025, up from 39.7% in
November, 2025.
WPR witnessed steady rise:
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in the age group 15 years and above showed a gradual
improvement in December, 2025. Among rural male, WPR edged up to 76.0% in December, 2025
from 75.4% in November, 2025 while urban male WPR observed decline from 70.9% in November,
2025 to 70.4% in December, 2025, pushing overall male WPR to 74.1%.
Rural female WPR rose marginally from 38.4% to 38.6% during this period, while urban female WPR
was around 23.0%, leading to an overall female WPR of 33.6% in December, 2025 from 33.4%
observed in November, 2025. The overall WPR for persons observed as 53.4% in December, 2025
against 53.2% in November, 2025.The overall workforce remained steady, rising marginally to 53.4% in December, 2025 from 53.2% in
November, 2025.
Overall Unemployment Rate (UR) remains broadly stable:
The UR among persons of age 15 years and above remained largely stable in December, 2025. The
overall UR is estimated at 4.8% in December, 2025, compared to 4.7% observed in November, 2025.
The rural UR remained stagnant at 3.9%, while the urban UR increased to 6.7% from 6.5% in theprevious month.
Rural UR continued to stay low at 3.9% in December, 2025, unchanged from November, 2025.
Rural male UR stable, urban female declines:
Among rural male aged 15 years and above, the UR remained low and stable at 4.1% in December,
2025. Further, the urban female UR moderated to 9.1% in December, 2025, compared to 9.3% in
November, 2025. The UR in the remaining gender-sector increased slightly, though it continued to
remain below the levels observed during the mid-year months.At the all-India level, the monthly estimates are based on information collected from a total
number of 3,73,990 persons surveyed.
persons surveyed in rural areas persons surveyed in urban areas
2,13,216 1,60,774
The Monthly Bulletin for the month December, Scan QR code to access MoSPI Publications/
2025 is available on the website of the Ministry Reports
(https://www.mospi.gov.in).
***
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