PLFS monthly bulletin: unemployment rate 5.1% and LFPR 55.4% in March 2026
The Periodic Labour Force Survey bulletin for March 2026, released by MoSPI on 15 April 2026, put the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above at 5.1% and the labour force participation rate at 55.4%.
Summary
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin for March 2026, released by the National Statistics Office (MoSPI) on 15 April 2026, estimated the unemployment rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above at 5.1% under the Current Weekly Status approach. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) was 55.4%, down from 55.9% in February; rural LFPR was 58.0% and urban LFPR 50.3%. Female LFPR fell to 34.4% from 35.3%, at 38.9% in rural and 25.2% in urban areas. The worker population ratio (WPR) was 52.6%. PLFS methodology was changed from January 2025 to give monthly and quarterly estimates, and the March 2026 bulletin is the twelfth in the monthly series.
Key facts
- Unemployment rate (15+)
- 5.1%
- LFPR (15+)
- 55.4% (Feb: 55.9%)
- Female LFPR
- 34.4% (rural 38.9%, urban 25.2%)
- WPR (15+)
- 52.6%
- Approach
- Current Weekly Status (CWS)
- Series
- 12th monthly bulletin; monthly method since Jan 2025
Practice MCQs 2 questions
According to the PLFS monthly bulletin for March 2026, the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above (CWS) was:
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Correct answer: A — 5.1%
MoSPI put the overall unemployment rate at 5.1% in March 2026.
Consider the following statements about the PLFS monthly bulletin for March 2026: 1. The March 2026 bulletin was the first in the monthly PLFS series. 2. Female LFPR in urban areas was higher than in rural areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong. The March 2026 bulletin is the twelfth in the series, and urban female LFPR (25.2%) was lower than rural female LFPR (38.9%).