PLFS 2025: Key indicators — India Labour Observatory

Name: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) January–December 2025: the observatory's tables
Creator: India Labour Observatory
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Kumar, Abhinav; Pradhan, Ananya

India Labour ObservatoryData & Methods PLFS 2025Key indicators

Key indicators

Participation, work and unemployment at every age, in usual and in current weekly status, and month by month.

10 tables, from the records of the Periodic Labour Force Survey, January to December 2025, each cell with its standard error. 27 of the 27 figures of this section that MoSPI's press note prints are reproduced at the printed decimal.

Table 1.1Labour force participation rate by age, usual status (ps+ss)

Persons of each age group. per cent.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
15-19	25.20.4	10.20.3	18.10.3	27.90.5	12.00.4	20.20.3	19.10.5	5.90.3	13.00.3
20-24	76.70.4	31.40.4	54.10.3	80.50.4	33.10.5	56.40.4	69.40.7	27.70.6	49.60.5
25-29	96.10.2	41.00.5	67.90.3	96.60.2	44.00.6	69.20.4	95.10.3	34.60.7	65.50.4
30-34	98.50.1	49.30.5	73.20.3	98.50.2	56.20.6	76.30.3	98.50.1	35.40.7	67.30.4
35-39	98.60.1	57.20.5	76.90.3	98.70.1	65.80.6	81.10.4	98.50.1	39.40.6	68.50.4
40-44	98.60.1	58.10.4	77.70.2	98.80.1	67.70.6	82.60.3	98.30.1	38.60.6	68.10.4
45-49	97.90.1	57.80.5	77.70.3	98.00.2	68.60.6	83.20.4	97.70.2	36.10.6	67.00.4
50-54	95.80.2	51.40.5	73.60.3	96.50.3	62.00.7	79.10.4	94.50.4	31.10.7	63.10.5
55-59	92.40.3	46.60.5	68.70.4	94.30.3	55.80.7	74.30.5	88.50.5	27.40.7	57.20.5
60+	53.80.4	21.40.3	37.20.3	60.40.5	26.50.4	43.10.4	39.40.5	10.50.3	24.50.3
15-29	64.00.3	27.50.3	46.00.2	65.50.3	29.30.3	47.30.2	60.90.4	23.20.3	43.10.3
15-59	83.60.1	43.50.2	63.30.1	84.30.1	49.50.3	66.50.2	82.30.2	30.80.2	57.00.2
15 and above	79.10.1	40.00.2	59.30.1	80.50.1	45.90.2	62.80.2	76.20.2	27.70.2	52.20.2
All ages	59.10.1	30.70.1	44.90.1	58.80.2	34.60.2	46.60.1	59.70.2	22.20.2	41.30.1

Table 1.2Worker population ratio by age, usual status (ps+ss)

Persons of each age group. per cent.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
15-19	21.80.4	9.50.3	16.00.2	24.40.5	11.20.4	18.00.3	16.10.5	5.00.3	11.00.3
20-24	67.30.4	26.20.4	46.80.3	71.80.5	28.70.5	49.80.4	58.70.7	20.90.5	40.70.5
25-29	90.70.2	37.60.5	63.60.3	92.60.3	41.50.6	66.00.4	87.10.4	29.30.6	58.90.4
30-34	96.40.2	48.10.5	71.50.3	96.90.2	55.50.6	75.10.3	95.40.3	33.30.7	64.70.4
35-39	97.90.1	56.70.5	76.30.3	98.40.1	65.60.6	80.80.4	97.10.2	38.50.6	67.40.4
40-44	98.10.1	57.90.4	77.40.2	98.60.1	67.60.6	82.50.3	97.30.2	38.20.6	67.40.4
45-49	97.60.1	57.70.5	77.50.3	97.90.2	68.60.6	83.10.4	96.90.2	35.90.6	66.50.4
50-54	95.50.2	51.40.5	73.40.3	96.40.3	62.00.7	79.10.4	93.70.4	31.10.7	62.60.5
55-59	92.10.3	46.50.5	68.50.4	94.20.3	55.80.7	74.20.5	88.00.5	27.40.7	56.90.5
60+	53.70.4	21.40.3	37.10.3	60.40.5	26.50.4	43.10.4	39.30.5	10.50.3	24.40.3
15-29	58.00.3	24.40.2	41.40.2	60.20.3	26.80.3	43.40.3	53.80.4	18.90.3	37.20.3
15-59	80.70.1	42.00.2	61.20.1	81.80.2	48.30.3	64.70.2	78.60.2	28.70.2	54.10.2
15 and above	76.60.1	38.80.2	57.40.1	78.40.2	44.90.2	61.20.2	73.00.2	25.90.2	49.70.2
All ages	57.20.1	29.80.1	43.50.1	57.20.2	33.80.2	45.40.1	57.20.2	20.70.2	39.30.1

Table 1.3Unemployment rate by age, usual status (ps+ss)

Persons of each age group. per cent.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
15-19	13.20.6	7.70.7	11.70.5	12.50.7	6.30.8	10.80.6	15.40.9	15.11.6	15.30.8
20-24	12.30.3	16.40.5	13.50.3	10.90.4	13.40.6	11.60.3	15.40.5	24.40.9	17.80.5
25-29	5.60.2	8.20.3	6.40.2	4.10.2	5.70.3	4.60.2	8.30.4	15.20.8	10.10.3
30-34	2.10.1	2.50.2	2.30.1	1.60.1	1.40.1	1.50.1	3.20.2	6.00.4	3.90.2
35-39	0.70.1	0.80.1	0.80.0	0.40.0	0.40.1	0.40.0	1.40.1	2.30.3	1.70.1
40-44	0.50.0	0.30.0	0.40.0	0.20.0	0.10.0	0.20.0	1.00.1	1.10.2	1.00.1
45-49	0.30.0	0.10.0	0.30.0	0.10.0	0.00.0	0.10.0	0.80.1	0.50.2	0.70.1
50-54	0.40.0	0.10.0	0.30.0	0.10.0	0.00.0	0.10.0	0.80.1	0.30.2	0.70.1
55-59	0.30.0	0.10.1	0.20.0	0.10.0	0.10.1	0.10.0	0.60.1	0.10.1	0.50.1
60+	0.10.0	0.10.1	0.10.0	0.00.0	0.10.1	0.10.0	0.40.1	0.20.1	0.30.1
15-29	9.30.2	11.30.3	9.90.2	8.20.2	8.60.3	8.30.2	11.80.3	18.90.6	13.60.3
15-59	3.50.1	3.40.1	3.40.0	3.00.1	2.30.1	2.70.1	4.50.1	6.80.2	5.10.1
15 and above	3.10.1	3.10.1	3.10.0	2.60.1	2.10.1	2.40.0	4.20.1	6.40.2	4.80.1
All ages	3.10.1	3.10.1	3.10.0	2.60.1	2.10.1	2.40.0	4.20.1	6.40.2	4.80.1

Table 1.4Labour force participation rate by age, current weekly status

Persons of each age group. per cent. CWS: work on at least one hour of the week (11-72); seeking or available 81-82.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
15-19	23.70.4	7.90.3	16.20.2	25.90.5	9.00.3	17.80.3	18.60.5	5.40.3	12.50.3
20-24	72.60.4	25.80.4	49.30.3	75.90.5	25.70.5	50.30.4	66.40.7	26.00.6	47.20.5
25-29	95.30.2	32.70.4	63.40.3	95.60.2	33.10.6	63.00.4	94.80.3	31.90.7	64.00.4
30-34	97.90.1	41.40.5	68.80.3	97.70.2	45.60.6	70.30.4	98.20.1	32.90.7	65.90.4
35-39	98.00.1	49.40.5	72.50.3	97.90.2	55.60.6	75.30.4	98.10.2	36.70.7	66.90.4
40-44	98.10.1	51.60.5	74.20.3	98.20.1	59.00.6	77.80.3	97.80.2	36.80.6	67.00.4
45-49	97.10.1	50.70.5	73.80.3	97.30.2	59.00.6	77.90.4	96.90.2	34.30.6	65.70.4
50-54	94.90.2	45.60.5	70.20.3	95.60.3	54.20.7	74.70.5	93.70.4	29.40.7	61.80.5
55-59	91.30.3	41.90.5	65.70.4	93.10.3	49.70.7	70.50.5	87.80.5	25.80.7	56.00.5
60+	52.00.4	18.50.3	34.80.3	58.40.5	22.70.4	40.10.4	38.10.5	9.50.3	23.30.3
15-29	61.90.3	22.10.2	42.20.2	63.00.3	22.30.3	42.50.2	59.70.4	21.60.3	41.60.3
15-59	82.30.1	37.20.2	59.50.1	82.80.1	41.20.3	61.50.2	81.50.2	28.90.2	55.60.2
15 and above	77.70.1	34.30.2	55.70.1	78.90.2	38.30.2	58.10.2	75.30.2	25.90.2	50.80.2
All ages	58.00.1	26.30.1	42.20.1	57.60.2	28.90.2	43.10.1	59.00.2	20.70.2	40.20.1

Table 1.5Worker population ratio by age, current weekly status

Persons of each age group. per cent. CWS: work on at least one hour of the week (11-72); seeking or available 81-82.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
15-19	18.90.4	6.90.2	13.20.2	20.80.5	8.00.3	14.60.3	14.70.5	4.40.3	10.00.3
20-24	59.00.4	19.80.4	39.50.3	62.50.5	20.70.5	41.20.4	52.30.7	17.70.5	35.80.5
25-29	86.70.3	28.50.4	57.00.3	87.90.3	30.00.6	57.70.4	84.50.4	25.30.6	55.60.4
30-34	94.40.2	39.70.5	66.20.3	94.70.3	44.20.6	68.20.4	93.80.3	30.50.6	62.50.4
35-39	96.20.2	48.40.5	71.10.3	96.50.2	54.70.6	74.20.4	95.70.2	35.50.7	65.10.4
40-44	96.80.1	51.00.5	73.20.3	97.10.2	58.40.6	77.00.3	96.10.2	36.00.6	65.70.4
45-49	95.80.2	50.00.5	72.80.3	96.10.2	58.10.6	76.90.4	95.00.3	33.80.6	64.50.4
50-54	93.50.3	44.80.5	69.10.3	94.30.3	53.20.7	73.60.5	92.10.4	29.00.7	60.80.5
55-59	90.00.3	41.40.5	64.80.4	91.80.4	49.10.7	69.60.5	86.30.5	25.30.7	55.00.5
60+	51.40.4	18.10.3	34.30.3	57.80.5	22.30.4	39.60.4	37.50.5	9.30.3	22.90.3
15-29	53.00.3	18.40.2	35.90.2	54.40.4	19.30.3	36.80.3	50.30.4	16.20.3	34.10.3
15-59	77.60.1	35.20.2	56.20.1	78.30.2	39.50.3	58.40.2	76.30.2	26.20.2	51.70.2
15 and above	73.60.1	32.50.2	52.80.1	75.00.2	36.80.2	55.40.2	70.70.2	23.60.2	47.40.2
All ages	55.00.1	25.00.1	40.00.1	54.70.2	27.70.2	41.10.1	55.40.2	18.90.2	37.50.1

Table 1.6Unemployment rate by age, current weekly status

Persons of each age group. per cent. CWS: work on at least one hour of the week (11-72); seeking or available 81-82.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
15-19	20.10.7	12.61.0	18.40.6	19.90.9	11.31.2	17.80.7	20.91.0	18.21.9	20.40.9
20-24	18.70.4	23.30.6	19.90.3	17.60.5	19.40.8	18.00.4	21.20.6	31.91.0	24.00.5
25-29	9.00.2	12.90.4	10.00.2	8.00.3	9.40.5	8.40.2	10.90.4	20.50.9	13.20.4
30-34	3.60.1	4.10.2	3.80.1	3.10.2	3.00.3	3.00.1	4.50.3	7.40.5	5.20.2
35-39	1.80.1	2.10.1	1.90.1	1.50.1	1.60.2	1.50.1	2.50.2	3.40.3	2.70.2
40-44	1.30.1	1.20.1	1.30.1	1.10.1	1.00.1	1.00.1	1.80.1	2.00.3	1.80.1
45-49	1.40.1	1.40.2	1.40.1	1.20.1	1.50.3	1.30.1	1.90.2	1.40.2	1.80.1
50-54	1.50.1	1.80.3	1.60.1	1.30.1	1.90.3	1.50.2	1.80.2	1.40.3	1.70.2
55-59	1.50.2	1.30.2	1.40.1	1.40.2	1.20.2	1.30.2	1.70.2	1.80.6	1.70.2
60+	1.20.1	1.80.3	1.40.1	1.10.2	1.70.3	1.30.1	1.80.3	2.20.6	1.90.2
15-29	14.30.2	16.90.4	15.00.2	13.60.3	13.50.4	13.50.2	15.80.4	25.00.7	18.10.3
15-59	5.80.1	5.50.1	5.70.1	5.40.1	4.20.1	5.00.1	6.40.1	9.30.2	7.10.1
15 and above	5.30.1	5.20.1	5.30.1	4.90.1	4.00.1	4.60.1	6.10.1	8.90.2	6.80.1
All ages	5.30.1	5.20.1	5.30.1	4.90.1	4.00.1	4.60.1	6.10.1	8.90.2	6.80.1

Table 1.7Persons aged 15+ by usual activity

Persons aged 15+. per cent. Employed and unemployed in usual status (ps+ss); the rest by usual principal activity.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
Employed	76.60.1	38.80.2	57.40.1	78.40.2	44.90.2	61.20.2	73.00.2	25.90.2	49.70.2
Unemployed	2.50.0	1.20.0	1.80.0	2.10.1	1.00.0	1.50.0	3.20.1	1.80.1	2.50.0
Attending education	11.70.1	10.50.1	11.10.1	11.20.1	9.90.1	10.50.1	12.70.2	11.70.1	12.20.1
Domestic duties only	0.90.0	34.10.2	17.70.1	0.80.0	27.60.2	14.50.1	1.20.0	47.70.3	24.30.1
Domestic duties and free collection of goods	0.20.0	8.40.1	4.40.1	0.30.0	9.80.2	5.10.1	0.10.0	5.50.1	2.80.1
Rentier, pensioner or remittance recipient	4.60.1	4.90.1	4.70.0	3.60.1	4.60.1	4.10.1	6.50.1	5.40.1	5.90.1
Unable to work owing to disability	2.00.0	1.10.0	1.50.0	2.10.1	1.20.0	1.60.0	1.70.0	1.00.0	1.30.0
Others	1.50.0	1.10.0	1.30.0	1.50.0	1.10.0	1.30.0	1.60.1	1.00.0	1.30.0

Table 1.8Unemployment rate by month of survey, current weekly status, persons aged 15+

Persons aged 15+ surveyed in each month. per cent. Each month's first-visit sample with the year's weight; the monthly bulletins' own estimates differ.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
January	5.60.3	4.60.3	5.30.2	5.50.4	3.40.3	4.80.3	5.80.4	8.60.7	6.50.4
February	5.00.2	5.20.4	5.10.2	4.60.3	4.40.5	4.60.3	5.70.4	7.50.7	6.20.4
March	5.50.3	5.80.5	5.60.2	5.30.4	4.70.6	5.10.3	5.90.4	9.21.1	6.70.4
April	5.70.3	4.70.4	5.40.2	5.40.3	3.50.4	4.70.3	6.30.4	8.60.8	6.80.4
May	5.50.2	6.20.5	5.70.2	5.20.3	5.00.6	5.10.3	6.20.4	9.50.8	7.10.4
June	5.60.3	5.80.4	5.70.3	5.20.3	4.60.5	5.00.3	6.60.6	9.40.8	7.30.5
July	5.60.2	5.00.4	5.40.2	4.90.3	3.80.3	4.50.3	6.90.5	8.71.0	7.30.5
August	4.90.2	5.30.3	5.00.2	4.80.3	4.00.4	4.50.3	5.10.3	9.20.7	6.20.3
September	5.40.3	5.30.4	5.40.3	5.10.3	4.20.5	4.80.3	6.10.4	9.20.8	6.80.4
October	5.30.3	5.60.5	5.40.3	4.80.3	4.20.5	4.50.3	6.50.4	10.50.9	7.50.5
November	4.60.3	4.50.3	4.50.2	4.10.3	3.30.3	3.80.3	5.50.4	8.30.6	6.30.3
December	4.70.2	4.60.3	4.70.2	3.90.2	3.50.4	3.80.2	6.30.5	8.10.8	6.80.5

Table 1.9Worker population ratio by month of survey, current weekly status, persons aged 15+

Persons aged 15+ surveyed in each month. per cent. Each month's first-visit sample with the year's weight; the monthly bulletins' own estimates differ.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
January	73.90.5	33.70.7	53.70.5	75.10.6	38.31.0	56.40.7	71.30.6	23.80.8	47.90.5
February	74.00.5	31.20.7	52.10.4	75.60.6	34.20.9	54.10.6	70.90.7	24.80.7	47.90.6
March	73.80.5	30.10.7	51.80.4	75.20.6	33.60.9	54.00.5	71.10.8	22.80.8	47.40.6
April	73.00.4	33.40.8	52.90.5	74.30.6	37.91.1	55.60.7	70.40.6	23.80.9	47.40.6
May	72.60.4	28.70.6	50.30.4	73.70.6	31.60.8	52.00.6	70.40.7	22.80.7	46.70.6
June	72.40.5	31.20.7	51.70.5	73.60.7	34.51.0	53.80.7	69.90.9	24.00.8	47.40.6
July	73.00.5	32.60.8	52.50.5	74.40.6	36.61.1	54.90.8	70.30.7	24.00.7	47.40.6
August	73.90.5	33.90.7	53.60.5	74.70.6	38.50.9	56.10.7	72.30.7	24.50.7	48.60.5
September	73.70.4	33.20.7	53.10.5	75.10.6	38.00.9	56.10.6	70.90.7	22.80.8	47.10.6
October	73.40.5	32.90.7	52.90.5	75.20.6	38.00.9	56.10.6	70.00.7	22.30.7	46.20.5
November	74.20.6	34.40.8	54.00.5	76.00.7	39.51.1	57.30.7	70.60.9	23.90.8	47.40.5
December	75.10.5	35.00.7	54.80.5	77.60.6	40.70.9	58.60.6	70.30.8	23.50.9	47.20.7

Table 1.10Labour force participation rate by month of survey, current weekly status, persons aged 15+

Persons aged 15+ surveyed in each month. per cent. Each month's first-visit sample with the year's weight; the monthly bulletins' own estimates differ.

MenWomenEveryone All India. PLFS 2025, computed by the observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records.

every table, unrounded

	All India			Rural			Urban
	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone	Men	Women	Everyone
January	78.30.4	35.40.7	56.70.5	79.50.6	39.71.0	59.30.7	75.70.6	26.10.8	51.20.5
February	77.90.4	32.90.7	54.80.4	79.30.5	35.71.0	56.70.6	75.20.7	26.80.8	51.10.5
March	78.10.4	32.00.7	54.80.4	79.40.6	35.30.9	56.90.5	75.50.7	25.10.8	50.70.5
April	77.40.4	35.00.8	55.90.5	78.50.5	39.21.1	58.40.7	75.10.6	26.10.9	50.90.6
May	76.80.4	30.60.6	53.30.4	77.70.5	33.20.8	54.80.5	75.10.6	25.20.8	50.20.6
June	76.70.5	33.10.7	54.90.5	77.60.6	36.21.0	56.70.7	74.80.8	26.50.8	51.10.6
July	77.40.5	34.30.8	55.40.5	78.30.6	38.01.1	57.50.7	75.50.7	26.30.7	51.10.6
August	77.70.4	35.80.7	56.50.5	78.50.6	40.10.9	58.80.7	76.20.6	27.00.8	51.80.5
September	77.90.4	35.00.7	56.10.5	79.10.5	39.70.9	58.90.6	75.50.6	25.10.8	50.60.6
October	77.60.4	34.80.7	55.90.4	79.00.5	39.70.9	58.80.6	74.80.7	24.90.8	50.00.5
November	77.70.5	36.00.8	56.50.5	79.30.6	40.91.1	59.60.7	74.70.9	26.10.8	50.50.5
December	78.80.4	36.70.7	57.40.5	80.70.5	42.10.9	60.90.6	75.00.7	25.60.9	50.60.6

Computed by the India Labour Observatory from MoSPI's unit-level records of the Periodic Labour Force Survey, January to December 2025; Release 2026.10.