## Policy Summary: Employment Trends in India (2020-2024)
This report summarizes employment trends in India based on data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the KLEMS database published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The data pertains to individuals aged 15 years and above.
**Key Findings:**
* **Worker Population Ratio (WPR):** The WPR, indicating employment, has shown an increasing trend from 2020-21 to 2023-24. Specific figures are:
* 2020-21: 52.6
* 2021-22: 52.9
* 2022-23: 56.0
* 2023-24: 58.2
* **Unemployment Rate (UR):** The UR has exhibited a decreasing trend over the same period:
* 2020-21: 4.2
* 2021-22: 4.1
* 2022-23: 3.2
* 2023-24: 3.2
* **Overall Employment:** The KLEMS database indicates a substantial increase in overall employment, rising from 47.5 crore in 2017-18 to 64.33 crore in 2023-24.
* **Female Worker Population Ratio (WPR):** The female WPR has consistently increased from 2019-20 to 2023-24:
* 2019-20: 28.7
* 2020-21: 31.4
* 2021-22: 31.7
* 2022-23: 35.9
* 2023-24: 40.3
**Data Sources:**
* Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
* KLEMS Database, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
**Reporting Authority:**
* Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment
**Release ID:** 2147928
Key Entities Referenced
KLEMS: Database published by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) which provides employment estimates.
Ministry of Labour Employment: The government ministry responsible for labour and employment policies.
Periodic Labour Force Survey PLFS: A survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to collect data on employment and unemployment.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation MoSPI: The government ministry responsible for collecting and publishing statistics, including employment data.
Worker Population Ratio WPR: A metric indicating the proportion of the population that is employed.
Unemployment Rate UR: A metric indicating the proportion of the labor force that is unemployed.
Reserve Bank of India RBI: The central bank of India, which publishes the KLEMS database including employment estimates.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India, where the information was provided in response to a question.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT GENERATION
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 6:38PM by PIB Delhi
The official data source on Employment and Unemployment is Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which
is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.
As per the data available in latest Annual PLFS Reports, the estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and
Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for person of age 15 years and above during the year 2020-21 to
2023-24 are as follows:
(in %)
Year WPR UR
2020-21 52.6 4.2
2021-22 52.9 4.1
2022-23 56.0 3.2
2023-24 58.2 3.2
Source: PLFS, MoSPI
The data indicates that the Worker population Ratio for persons of age 15 years and above, indicating
employment, has an increasing trend and the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) has a decreasing trend over
the years in the country.
The KLEMS (K: Capital, L: Labour, E: Energy, M: Materials and S: Services) database published by Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) provides employment estimates, including manufacturing sector, at all India level. As per
the latest data of the database, employment in the country increased to 64.33 crore in 2023-24 as compared to
47.5 crore in 2017-18.
Further, as per the data available in latest Annual PLFS Reports, the estimated female Worker Population
Ratio (WPR) for persons of age 15 years and above, indicating employment, during the year 2019-20, 2020-
21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 is 28.7%, 31.4%, 31.7%, 35.9% and 40.3%, respectively, which has an
increasing trend over the years.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Sushri Shobha Karandlaje in
written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
MG/DK
(Release ID: 2147928)