India’s unemployment rate increased to 5.1% in March 2026, up from 4.9% in February, matching market expectations and marking the highest level since October 2025. The rise was driven by higher joblessness in both urban areas (6.8% vs. 6.6%) and rural regions (4.3% vs. 4.2%). Women faced a notable uptick in unemployment, with urban female joblessness rising to 9.0% (from 8.7%) and rural female unemployment reaching 4.1% (from 4.0%). Male unemployment also inched higher, climbing to 6.1% (from 5.9%) in urban areas and 4.4% (from 4.2%) in rural regions. Meanwhile, the employment rate dipped to 52.6% from 53.2%, and the labor force participation rate fell to 55.4% from 55.9%, signaling a slight weakening in overall labor market conditions. source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)

Unemployment Rate in India increased to 5.10 percent in March from 4.90 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in India averaged 7.72 percent from 2018 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 20.80 percent in June of 2020 and a record low of 4.70 percent in November of 2025. This page provides - India Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. India Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in India increased to 5.10 percent in March from 4.90 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in India is expected to be 5.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the India Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 5.40 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-16 10:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.9% 5% 5.1% 5.1%
2026-04-15 10:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 5.1% 4.9% 5.1% 5.0%
2026-08-18 11:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 5.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Rate 52.60 53.20 percent Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 55.40 55.90 percent Mar 2026
Minimum Wages 178.00 178.00 INR/Day Dec 2026
Population 1398.60 1386.18 Million Dec 2024
Retirement Age Men 60.00 60.00 Years Dec 2026
Retirement Age Women 60.00 60.00 Years Dec 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.10 4.90 percent Mar 2026


India Unemployment Rate
In India, the unemployment rate is estimated by directly interviewing a large sample of randomly selected households. Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Consumer Pyramids panel of households includes over 174,405 households including over 522,000 members who are over 15 years old.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.10 4.90 20.80 4.70 2018 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
India’s Unemployment Rate Climbs to 5.1% in March
India’s unemployment rate increased to 5.1% in March 2026, up from 4.9% in February, matching market expectations and marking the highest level since October 2025. The rise was driven by higher joblessness in both urban areas (6.8% vs. 6.6%) and rural regions (4.3% vs. 4.2%). Women faced a notable uptick in unemployment, with urban female joblessness rising to 9.0% (from 8.7%) and rural female unemployment reaching 4.1% (from 4.0%). Male unemployment also inched higher, climbing to 6.1% (from 5.9%) in urban areas and 4.4% (from 4.2%) in rural regions. Meanwhile, the employment rate dipped to 52.6% from 53.2%, and the labor force participation rate fell to 55.4% from 55.9%, signaling a slight weakening in overall labor market conditions.
2026-04-15
India Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Drops
The unemployment rate in India inched down to 4.9% in February of 2026 from 5% in the previous month, contrasting with the market consensus that it would increase to 5.1%. The rate inched closer to the record low of 4.7% from November of the previous year, reflecting strength in the Indian labor market amid robustness in its manufacturing and government support against US tariffs. The unemployment rate fell sharply for urban residents (6.6% vs 6.5% in January), while that for rural residents was unchanged (at 4.2%). In the meantime, the labor force participation rate was unchanged at 55.9%.
2026-03-16
India’s Jobless Rate Edges Higher in January
India’s unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in January 2026 from 4.8% in December, coming in above market expectations of 4.8%. The increase was driven by higher joblessness in both rural areas (4.2% vs. 3.9%) and urban centers (7.0% vs. 6.7%). Unemployment among women climbed notably, reaching 9.8% in urban areas (up from 9.1%) and 4.3% in rural regions (from 3.6%). Male unemployment also edged higher in urban areas to 6.0% from 5.9%, while remaining unchanged at 4.1% in rural areas. Meanwhile, the employment rate slipped to 53.1% from 53.4% in December, and the labor force participation rate declined to 55.9% from 56.1%, pointing to a slight softening in overall labor market conditions.
2026-02-16