PLFS April 2026: urban unemployment eases to 6.6%; urban female unemployment at one-year low of 8.5%
The PLFS monthly bulletin for April 2026, released by MoSPI on 15 May 2026, put the urban unemployment rate (15+) at 6.6% and the overall labour force participation rate at 55.0%.
Summary
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin for April 2026, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 15 May 2026, showed the urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above easing to 6.6% from 6.8% in March. The urban female unemployment rate fell to 8.5%, the lowest since April 2025, while the overall labour force participation rate was 55.0% and the worker population ratio 52.2%. The PLFS is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI, and its methodology was modified from January 2025 to give monthly estimates on the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach. The April 2026 bulletin is the thirteenth in the monthly series.
Key facts
- Urban UR (15+)
- 6.6% (March: 6.8%)
- Urban female UR
- 8.5% – lowest since April 2025
- Overall LFPR
- 55.0%
- Overall WPR
- 52.2%
- Female LFPR
- 33.9%
- Survey
- NSO, MoSPI; monthly since January 2025 methodology change; CWS approach
Practice MCQs 2 questions
According to the PLFS monthly bulletin for April 2026, what was the urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 6.6%
The urban unemployment rate (15+) eased to 6.6% in April 2026 from 6.8% in March 2026.
Which body conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI
The PLFS is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.