PLFS December 2025: female LFPR hits yearly high of 35.3%; unemployment at 4.8%
The PLFS Monthly Bulletin for December 2025, released by MoSPI on 15 January 2026, showed female labour force participation at a yearly high of 35.3% and the overall unemployment rate at 4.8%.
Summary
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for December 2025, released by the National Statistics Office (MoSPI), put female labour force participation (LFPR, age 15+) at 35.3%, the highest level of the year. Overall LFPR rose to 56.1% and the worker population ratio (WPR) reached a yearly peak of 53.4%. The unemployment rate was 4.8%, against 4.7% in November, while urban female unemployment fell to 9.1% from its October high of 9.7%. Estimates follow the Current Weekly Status approach, and this was the ninth monthly bulletin since the survey's revised methodology began in January 2025.
Key facts
- Bulletin
- PLFS Monthly Bulletin, December 2025 (ninth in series)
- Female LFPR (15+)
- 35.3% — yearly high
- Overall LFPR (15+)
- 56.1%
- WPR (15+)
- 53.4% — yearly peak
- Unemployment rate
- 4.8% (November: 4.7%)
- Urban female UR
- 9.1% (October high: 9.7%)
- Approach
- Current Weekly Status (CWS)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for December 2025, what was the female labour force participation rate (age 15+)?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 35.3%
PIB (MoSPI): female LFPR (15+) stood at 35.3% in December 2025, the highest of the year. 38.6% is rural female WPR.
What was India's overall unemployment rate (age 15+) in December 2025 as per the PLFS Monthly Bulletin?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 4.8%
PIB (MoSPI): the unemployment rate was 4.8% in December 2025, compared with 4.7% in November 2025. 9.1% is urban female unemployment.
PLFS monthly estimates of LFPR, WPR and unemployment rate at the all-India level are based on which approach?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Current Weekly Status (CWS)
PIB (MoSPI): the Monthly Bulletins present LFPR, WPR and UR following the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach.