This document summarizes the pattern of rural employment in India, with specific attention to Tamil Nadu, based on data collected through the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The data, spanning from 2019-20 to 2023-24, indicates an increasing trend in rural employment across India. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for individuals aged 15 years and above in rural areas nationally increased from 53.3 in 2019-20 to 62.1 in 2023-24. In Tamil Nadu, the WPR increased from 59.8 to 63.1 during the same period.
According to the Annual PLFS report 2023-24, the distribution of rural workers by broad industry division is as follows:
**All India:**
* Agriculture: 59.8%
* Mining & Quarrying: 0.2%
* Manufacturing: 8.3%
* Electricity, Water, etc.: 0.4%
* Construction: 12.5%
* Trade, Hotel & Restaurant: 8.3%
* Transport, Storage & Communications: 3.7%
* Other Services: 6.9%
**Tamil Nadu:**
* Agriculture: 41.2%
* Mining & Quarrying: 0.2%
* Manufacturing: 12.2%
* Electricity, Water, etc.: 0.6%
* Construction: 21.5%
* Trade, Hotel & Restaurant: 10.0%
* Transport, Storage & Communications: 6.4%
* Other Services: 8.0%
More detailed state-wise and gender-wise information is available in the PLFS reports, accessible at https://www.mospi.gov.in/downloadreportsmaincat?O=DU5&catAll=subcat egoryAll. The information was provided in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2520 on August 4, 2025, by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The Indian government ministry responsible for labour and employment policies.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was addressed.
SHRI K GOPINATH: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 2520.
SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: The Minister of State for Labour and Employment who provided the answer to the question.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to collect data on employment and unemployment in India.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The Indian government ministry responsible for statistical data collection, including the PLFS.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India for which specific rural employment data is provided.
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): A key employment indicator used in the PLFS reports, representing the proportion of the population employed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2520
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04TH AUGUST, 2025
PATTERN OF RURAL EMPLOYMENT
2520. SHRI K GOPINATH:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:
the details of the pattern of rural employment in the country in terms of
primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of employment, gender and State-
wise particularly in Tamil Nadu?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
The official data on Employment and Unemployment is collected
through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.
As per the latest available Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Worker
Population Ratio (WPR), indicating employment, on usual status for persons
of age 15 years & above in rural areas in the country and in Tamil Nadu
during 2019-20 to 2023-24 are as follow:
Years Worker Population Ratio (in %)
All India Tamil Nadu
2019-20 53.3 59.8
2020-21 55.5 62.1
2021-22 55.6 60.8
2022-23 59.4 59.6
2023-24 62.1 63.1
Source: PLFS, MoSPIThe data indicates that the employment in rural areas has increasing
trend over the years. The estimated WPR, indicating employment, in rural
areas has increased from 53.3% in 2019-20 to 62.1% in 2023-24. Also, in
Tamil Nadu, WPR has increased from 59.8% to 63.1% during the same period.
As per the latest available Annual PLFS report 2023-24, the percentage
distribution of rural workers by broad industry division are as follows:
(in %)
Broad Industry Division
S. No. Al India Tamil Nadu
as per NIC- 2008
1 Agriculture 59.8 41.2
2 Mining & quarrying 0.2 0.2
3 Manufacturing 8.3 12.2
4 Electricity, water, etc. 0.4 0.6
5 Construction 12.5 21.5
6 Trade, hotel & restaurant 8.3 10.0
Transport, storage &
7 3.7
communications 6.4
8 Other services 6.9 8.0
All 100 100
Source: PLFS, MoSPI
The State-wise and gender-wise information are available in the
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports, which may be seen at
https://www.mospi.gov.in/downloadreports?main_cat=ODU5&cat=All&sub_cat
egory=All