Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24

April 11, 2025

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is vital for understanding India’s employment landscape. This survey provides data on key labour force indicators such as the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR). The latest PLFS report, covering July 2023 to June 2024, reveals ongoing trends in employment across urban and rural areas.

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)

In urban areas, the LFPR for males rose from 74.3% in 2023 to 75.6% in 2024. Female participation also saw a slight increase from 25.5% to 25.8%. Overall, the national LFPR increased from 50.3% to 51.0%. However, despite these urban gains, the overall LFPR remained steady at 56.2%.

Worker Population Ratio (WPR)

The WPR showed slight improvements across all categories. In urban areas, it increased from 47.0% to 47.6%. At the national level, the WPR remained relatively unchanged, moving from 53.4% to 53.5%. This indicates a stable employment environment, although more changes were noted in urban settings.

Unemployment Rate (UR)

The unemployment rate in rural areas experienced a minor decline from 4.3% to 4.2%. This reduction was observed in both male and female unemployment rates. Conversely, urban male unemployment rose slightly from 6.0% to 6.1%, while female unemployment decreased from 8.9% to 8.2%. The overall urban unemployment rate remained stable at 6.7%. At the all-India level, unemployment saw a slight drop from 5.0% to 4.9%, indicating modest improvements in job availability.

Changes in Household Enterprises

A notable decline in unpaid helpers in household enterprises contributed to changes in the LFPR and WPR among rural females. The percentage of unpaid helpers decreased from 19.9% to 18.1% between 2023 and 2024. This shift may reflect changing economic roles and increased opportunities for women in other employment sectors.

PLFS Methodology

The PLFS was initiated by the National Statistics Office in April 2017. Its primary aim is to provide timely data on employment and unemployment indicators. The survey collects data quarterly and annually, covering both urban and rural areas. The latest report is based on data collected from July 2023 to June 2024, ensuring that the estimates reflect current labour market conditions.

Sample Size and Coverage

For the 2024 estimates, the PLFS surveyed 12,749 First Stage Units (FSUs), including 6,982 villages and 5,767 urban blocks. A total of 101,957 households were surveyed, comprising 55,846 rural and 46,111 urban households. This extensive sample size ensures the reliability of the labour market indicators presented.

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