The latest Monthly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the National Statistics Office, gives an updated picture of India’s job situation. The May 2025 report shows a rise in unemployment, a drop in the number of working women, and a shift in rural jobs from farming to services and factory work.

But beyond these figures is a deeper story — one where weather, social roles, and the timing of crop seasons affect who works, where they work, and when.

UNEMPLOYMENT UP, PARTICIPATION DOWN

In May, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) — the share of people working or looking for work — for those aged 15 and above dropped slightly to 54.8%, from 55.6% in April. Rural India had a higher LFPR at 56.9%, while urban areas stood at 50.4%.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) — which shows how many people are actually working — also fell, from 52.8% in April to 51.7% in May.

The most noticeable change was in the Unemployment Rate (UR), which rose to 5.6%, up from 5.1% the month before. Youth aged 15–29 were hit hardest, with an unemployment rate of 15.0%. Young women in this group had an even higher rate of 16.3%, highlighting ongoing challenges in providing jobs for educated, young women.

WOMEN STEP BACK FROM WORK

The fall in female workforce participation was especially sharp in rural areas. The female LFPR in rural areas dropped to 36.9%, and the WPR for rural women was just 35.2%. In urban areas, it was even lower, at 23.0%.

This drop is linked to the end of the Rabi harvest season, which meant fewer agricultural jobs. On top of that, many women from well-off rural families returned to household work, which reflects ongoing social expectations around unpaid care work.

Despite more education and skill programmes, many women’s jobs still depend on the season and their family role — making their participation in the economy fragile.

FARMING GOES DOWN, SERVICES GROWING GRADUALLY

Rural employment in agriculture dropped from 45.9% in April to 43.5% in May. While this shift away from farming might seem like progress, it raises questions. Are these workers moving to better jobs?

Most seem to be moving into service and factory jobs, but these are often informal and not secure. Many rural workers simply wait out the gap between crop seasons without steady work.

In urban areas, there were small drops in people working for themselves or as casual workers. Even in cities, many jobs remain uncertain and low-paying.

This report also reflects a new survey method introduced in January 2025. The PLFS now uses a panel system, where selected households are visited four times over four months. This gives more frequent and timely job data.

With over 89,000 households and 3.8 lakh people surveyed, the May 2025 report is the second monthly bulletin using this method. It offers a clearer view of how India’s workforce changes each month — by location, gender, and season.

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India’s job landscape is changing. The economy is growing, technology is spreading, and cities are expanding. But the May 2025 data shows that work in India still depends heavily on the season, on whether you’re male or female, and on whether you live in a village or a city.

For the government and policymakers, the message is clear: it’s not just about creating more jobs. It’s about understanding why people stop working, what kind of support they need, and how to make jobs more reliable.

Until then, India’s workforce will keep shifting with the seasons — and the data will keep telling us what to look out for next.