PLFS: unemployment rate 5.4% in April–June 2025; first quarterly bulletin covering rural and urban areas
The PLFS Quarterly Bulletin for April–June 2025, released on 18 August 2025, put the unemployment rate (CWS, age 15+) at 5.4% and was the first in the series to cover both rural and urban areas.
Summary
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin for April–June 2025 and the Monthly Bulletin for July 2025 on 18 August 2025. The quarterly bulletin is the first in the series to provide estimates for both rural and urban areas, following the revamp of PLFS methodology from January 2025, and for the first time gives the number of workers in absolute terms. The unemployment rate in Current Weekly Status for persons aged 15 and above was 5.4% in April–June 2025, with rural at 4.8% and urban at 6.8%, and about 56.4 crore persons were employed during the quarter. The monthly bulletin showed the unemployment rate declining to 5.2% in July 2025 from 5.6% in June 2025.
Key facts
- Released
- 18 Aug 2025, MoSPI
- Quarter UR (CWS, 15+)
- 5.4% (Apr–Jun 2025)
- Rural / urban UR
- 4.8% / 6.8%
- Employed
- About 56.4 crore persons
- LFPR (15+)
- 55.0%
- Monthly UR
- 5.2% in July 2025 vs 5.6% in June
- First
- First quarterly bulletin with rural and urban estimates; absolute worker numbers
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What was the unemployment rate (Current Weekly Status, age 15 and above) for April–June 2025 as per the PLFS Quarterly Bulletin released on 18 August 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 5.4%
The Unemployment Rate in CWS for persons aged 15 years and above was 5.4% during April–June 2025; rural was 4.8% and urban 6.8%.
About how many persons aged 15 and above were employed in India during April–June 2025, according to the PLFS Quarterly Bulletin?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 56.4 crore
On average, 56.4 crore persons aged 15 years and above were employed in the country during the April–June 2025 quarter, of whom 39.7 crore were men.
Consider the following statements about the PLFS bulletins released on 18 August 2025: 1. The April–June 2025 Quarterly Bulletin is the first in the series to provide estimates for both rural and urban areas. 2. The monthly unemployment rate rose to 5.6% in July 2025 from 5.2% in June 2025. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: earlier quarterly bulletins covered only urban areas, and the April–June 2025 bulletin is the first to cover both. Statement 2 is incorrect: the unemployment rate declined to 5.2% in July 2025 from 5.6% in June 2025.