Jobs & Employment
How many people have jobs? How many are looking? Official numbers from India's largest household employment survey.
Unemployment Rate — 2023-24
3.2%
Labour Force Participation — 2023-24
60.1%
Unemployment Over Time
Out of every 100 people who want to work, how many can't find a job? This is measured every year by surveying thousands of households across India.
Unemployment by Gender
Do men and women face the same chances of finding work? Historically, women in cities have had a harder time finding jobs, though this gap has been shrinking.
Urban vs Rural
Are there more jobless people in cities or villages? Urban unemployment tends to be higher because city jobs are more formal — you either have one or you don't. In villages, most people work on farms or for themselves, so fewer count as "unemployed" even when work is scarce.
At a Glance — 2023-24
The full picture: who has work and who doesn't, broken down by men, women, cities, and villages.
| Category | Rural | Urban | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate (%) | |||
| Male | 2.7 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Female | 2.1 | 7.1 | 3.2 |
| Overall | 2.5 | 5.1 | 3.2 |
| Labour Force Participation Rate (%) | |||
| Male | 80.2 | 75.6 | 78.8 |
| Female | 47.6 | 28.0 | 41.7 |
| Overall | 63.7 | 52.0 | 60.1 |
Who's Working or Looking for Work?
Of all adults (15 and older), what percentage are either working or looking for work? The rest are students, homemakers, retired, or have given up looking. A rising line means more people are joining the workforce.
Labour Force Participation by Gender
What share of men vs women are in the workforce? India has one of the world's largest gaps here — far fewer women work outside the home, though this has been improving in recent years.