Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Report Context: Conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is a key source of data regarding employment, unemployment, and labour force participation in India. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR - March 2026): The overall LFPR for individuals aged 15 years and above stands at 55.4%. Within this, the rural LFPR is 58.0%, while the urban LFPR remains unchanged at 50.3%. Women's Participation: The LFPR for women, which stood at 35.3% in February 2026, witnessed a slight decline to 34.4% in March 2026. Specifically, the rural female LFPR is 38.9%, and the urban female LFPR is 25.2%. Worker-Population Ratio (WPR): This remains stable at an overall level of 52.6%. It stands at 55.5% in rural areas and 46.8% in urban areas. Unemployment Rate (UR): In March 2026, the unemployment rate rose to 5.1% (up from 4.9% in February). This increase is primarily attributed to a rise in urban unemployment, which reached 6.8%. Rural Scenario: In rural areas, the unemployment rate for women remained stable, whereas the unemployment rate for men witnessed a slight increase. About the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Launched in 2017 by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) serves as India's primary source for providing data on employment, unemployment, and wages. It was introduced as a replacement for the previous 'National Sample Survey' (NSS) method, with the aim of providing data on the labour market more frequently and reliably. Two Approaches to Measuring Employment Usual Status (US): Based on activities over the past one-year period (reflecting long-term trends). Current Weekly Status (CWS): Based on activities over the past 7 days (reflecting short-term changes). This dual approach accurately captures the dynamic and informal nature of…
