The government on Monday reported a steady decline in the country’s unemployment rate, citing data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). According to the latest annual PLFS, the unemployment rate (usual status) for people aged 15 and above fell from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has also revamped the PLFS from January 2025 to release monthly data. The official data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which is conducted by MoSPI since 2017-18. As per the August and September 2025 reports, the unemployment rate under the Current Weekly Status stood at 5.1% and 5.2% respectively. Rural unemployment was recorded at 4.3% and 4.6%, while urban unemployment was 6.7% and 6.8%. The ministry noted that monthly figures may vary due to frequency and seasonal trends.
In Maharashtra, the unemployment rate (usual status) declined from 4.8% in 2017-18 to 3.3% in 2023-24. Rural unemployment in the state dropped from 3.2% to 2.1%, and urban unemployment from 7.4% to 5.2% over the same period.
The Centre said employment generation and improving employability remain a priority, highlighting a wide range of schemes implemented across the country. These include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, MGNREGS, Production Linked Incentive schemes, National Livelihood Missions, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, PM SVANidhi, Start-Up India, Stand-Up India, and the Mudra Yojana. Details of these schemes are available on the Directorate General of Employment website.
To improve readiness for emerging industries, the Ministry of Electronics and IT is running the FutureSkills PRIME programme to reskill workers in 10 new technologies, including artificial intelligence. Several initiatives also target women’s employability. These include training through dedicated industrial and vocational institutes, AICTE scholarships like Pragati and Saraswati, and the recently launched AI Career for Women programme.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Palna component under Mission Shakti to expand childcare facilities through Anganwadi-cum-crèches. A new initiative, NAVYA, has been launched to provide vocational training to girls aged 16-18 years in non-traditional and emerging job roles.
The government has also rolled out the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, an Employment Linked Incentive scheme aimed at generating more than 3.5 crore jobs over two years with an outlay of ₹99,446 crore.
The Labour & Employment Ministry operates the National Career Service portal, offering job listings, counselling, career guidance and information on training programmes. It also runs the Welfare of SC/ST Jobseekers Scheme through 25 specialised career service centres, focusing on skilling and pre-recruitment training.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment continues to implement the PM-DAKSH scheme to provide skill training to SCs, OBCs, EWS, DNTs and sanitation workers for wage and self-employment.
The Ministry noted that the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH), 2020 has the provisions that women shall be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work and they may be employed, with their consent before 6 am and beyond 7 p.m. subject to such conditions relating to safety, holidays and working hours or any other conditions to be observed by the employer as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government.
The Union Budget 2024–25 also announced plans to set up working women’s hostels and crèches jointly with industry to help increase female workforce participation.
This information was provided by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.