New Delhi: According to a recent government survey, the unemployment rate among individuals aged 15 and older in India rose to 5% in January 2026, up from 4.8% in December 2025.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) indicates a slight uptick in joblessness across both rural and urban regions. Additionally, the survey highlighted a decrease in the labour force participation rate (LFPR) and the worker population ratio (WPR) in these areas.

The National Statistics Office (NSO), part of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, noted that the increase in unemployment and the decline in LFPR and WPR were largely influenced by rural factors, including seasonal changes, post-harvest slowdowns, and discouragement among job seekers.

The NSO explained, "Various sectors such as construction, agriculture-related work, transport, and small trade tend to slow down during the winter months, while urban areas have shown stability."

The unemployment rate for those aged 15 and above increased to 5% in January 2026 from 4.8% in the previous month.

In rural areas, the unemployment rate rose from 3.9% to 4.2%, while urban unemployment increased from 6.7% to 7.0% between December 2025 and January 2026.

For males aged 15 and older, the unemployment rate remained stable in January 2026.

Conversely, the unemployment rate for females in the same age group was higher in January compared to December 2025.

The report indicated that the female unemployment rate remained consistent with levels observed from April to December 2025, suggesting a temporary rise rather than a significant decline in female employment conditions.

The overall LFPR for individuals aged 15 and above was recorded at 55.9% in January, down from 56.1% in December 2025.

The rural LFPR decreased to 58.7% last month, compared to 59.0% in December 2025.

In urban areas, the LFPR was 50.3% in January 2026, slightly up from 50.2% in December 2025.

Female participation in the workforce was reported at 35.1%, with rural female LFPR at 39.7% and urban female LFPR at 25.5% last month.

The female LFPR showed minor fluctuations across rural and urban settings, according to the statement.

The overall WPR for those aged 15 and above remained largely stable in January 2026.

After a gradual rise in rural WPR from June 2025 (53.3%) to December 2025 (56.7%), it saw a slight decline to 56.2% in January 2026.

In rural areas, the male WPR was 75.7%, while the female WPR was 38.0% in January, compared to 76.0% and 38.6% respectively in the previous month.

Urban WPR remained stable across genders, with 70.5% for males, 23.0% for females, and an overall rate of 46.8% in January.

The national estimates are derived from a survey of 373,158 individuals.

The PLFS, conducted by the NSO, serves as the primary source for data regarding employment and unemployment trends in the country.

Since January 2025, the survey methodology has been updated to provide monthly and quarterly labor force indicators.

The monthly bulletins from April 2025 to December 2025 have been published, with the January 2026 bulletin being the tenth in this series.