Quarterly labour survey estimates India unemployment rate at 5.1%

India’s quarterly labour force survey estimated unemployment at 5.1% among people aged 15 and over in July–September 2026, down from 5.4% in April–June. The statistics ministry released the figures on November 10. The rate measures the share of the labour force that was unemployed under the survey’s Current Weekly Status method. [e1]

Rural unemployment fell from 4.8% to 4.3% over the same period, while the urban rate rose from 6.7% to 6.8%. [e1]

National labour force participation rose from 54.6% to 55.5%. The share of people aged 15 and over who were employed rose by one percentage point to 52.7%. [e1]