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India’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) for people aged 15 and above rose to a six-month high of 55.4 per cent in October, the Ministry of Statistics said on Monday. This marks the fourth consecutive month of improvement, highlighting a steady rise in employment activity across the country.

A key driver of this momentum has been the consistent increase in female participation, especially in rural regions. Officials said this trend reflects deeper economic inclusion supported by expanding local opportunities and seasonal demand.

Female LFPR for those aged 15 and above touched 34.2 per cent in October - the highest level since May 2025. The increase follows a consistent climb from 32 per cent in June, supported mainly by rural participation, which has shown sustained strength over recent months.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), another indicator of employment among those aged 15 and above, also continued its upward trend. It stood at 52.5 per cent in October, rising steadily since June. Female WPR recorded similar gains, marking four straight months of improvement.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 per cent in October, the same level as in September, indicating stable labour market conditions.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), carried out by the National Statistics Office, is India’s primary source for assessing employment, unemployment and activity participation trends. From January 2025, the methodology was revised to produce monthly and quarterly estimates, offering more frequent insights into the labour market.

The latest data, released in the PLFS Monthly Bulletin, reflects trends using the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach, capturing activity levels based on a 7-day reference period.

Officials said that continued growth in rural female participation, steady WPR and stable unemployment rates point to an improving labour market as the second half of the financial year progresses.

Ankit Kumar is a Senior Sub Editor at Zee Business. He covers international affairs, politics, climate change, business, finance and global elections. With experience acros