In News: The PLFS (December 2025) shows a steady recovery in the labour market, with rising workforce participation and stable unemployment levels.
About PLFS
- Based on Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach
- Measures activity status (employed / unemployed / out of labour force) during the 7 days preceding the survey
- Conducted by NSO, MoSPI
Key Findings
1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
- 56.1% (15+ years) in December 2025
- Continued upward trend since June 2025
- Definition: Percentage of population that is employed or actively seeking work
2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
- 53.4% – highest in 2025
- Rural males: 76.0%
- Rural females: 38.6%
- Indicates strong rural employment
- Definition: Percentage of population that is actually employed
3. Unemployment Rate (UR)
- Overall: 4.8% (stable)
- Rural: 3.9%
- Urban: 6.7% (slight rise)
- Urban female UR: Declined to 9.1% from 9.7% (Oct 2025)
4. Rural–Urban Divide
- Rural LFPR: 59.0%
- Urban LFPR: 50.2%
- Urban unemployment consistently higher than rural unemployment
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
