By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Youth unemployment rate in the age group of 15-29 years in India has been on the rise since April 2025, when the Union Government had started rolling out new revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data. In June 2026, youth unemployment rate touched a record high in Current Weekly Status (CWS) and reached 16.2 per cent, led by youth female unemployment rate climbing to 20.7 per cent, while youth male unemployment rate stood at 14.6 per cent. In April 2025, youth unemployment rate was 13.8 per cent, 13.6 per cent for youth male and 14.4 per cent for youth female. Since the new series had warned that its data was not comparable with older series, the same is not being done here.
Youth unemployment in May 2026 was 15.9 per cent which rose to 16.2 per cent in June. There was a sharp rise in youth female unemployment which rose from 18.9 per cent in May to 20.7 per cent in June. However, youth male unemployment declined a little from 14.9 per cent to 14.6 per cent.
In urban areas, youth unemployment in June 2026 was even higher at 18.2 per cent, 25.3 per cent for youth female and 16 per cent for youth male. The corresponding figures for the month of May were 17.5 per cent, 23.7 per cent, and 15.6 per cent.
In rural areas, youth unemployment in June 2026 was 15.1 per cent, which was at the same level as in May. However, youth female unemployment rose from 16.9 per cent in May to 18.6 per cent in June, while youth male unemployment declined to 13.9 per cent in June from 14.5 per cent in May.
This gives a clear indication that employment policy of India for youth has not been working at all – both for males and females since the launch of new PLFS series in April 2025. Youth females are suffering the worst, despite the government’s claim that they have been doing everything for women’s empowerment.
Overall unemployment for all age group in June 2026 remained at 5.5 per cent at the same level as it was a month ago in May. In April 2025, it was only 5.1 per cent. Male unemployment rate has declined from 5.5 per cent in May to 5.3 per cent in June, while female unemployment rate rose sharply from 5.6 per cent to 5.9 per cent during this period. In April 2025, male unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent and female unemployment rate was 5 per cent.
Urban unemployment for all age group increased from 6.4 per cent in May to 6.6 per cent in June. During this period female unemployment rose from 8.2 per cent to 8.4 per cent while male unemployment rose from 5.9 per cent to 6 per cent.
Rural unemployment, however, partially declined to 5 per cent in June compared to 5.1 per cent in May 2026. Nevertheless, female unemployment rose from 4.7 per cent in May to 5 per cent in June, and male unemployment declined from 5.3 per cent to 4.9 per cent.
Comparison from April 2025 unemployment data shows that employment policy of the country in general is not working. It is worth mentioning here that despite recommendation of the Indian Labour Conference, the apex tripartite body on labour issues in India, Modi government did not care to have employment policy. The government did not even convene ILC session since 2015. Even Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 is in pre-finalization stages, and government has shifted its responsibility to mere employment facilitator.
As for Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in CWS, that is the workforce who actually worked for at least 1 hour on any day during the 7 days preceding the survey, it remained stagnant at 39.1 per cent in May and June 2026. It has been declining since February 2026 when it was 40.3 per cent. Female WPR in June was 23.7 per cent compared to 25.7 per cent in February, while male WPR was 54.9 per cent in June compared to 55 per cent in February.
Youth WPR declined from 35.9 per cent in February to 33.8 per cent in June. Youth Female WPR declined from 19 per cent to 15.9 per cent and male WPR declined from 52.8 per cent to 51.5 per cent during this period.
WPR in urban areas in June 2026 was 37.2 per cent while it was 40.1 per cent in rural areas. Female WPR in urban areas was as low as 18.1 per cent, while female youth WPR was even less at 15.2 per cent.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), that is number of persons either employed or unemployed on an average in a week of 7 days preceding the date of survey, in CWS was 41.4 per cent both in May and June 2026. LFPR for female declined from 25.3 per cent in May to 25.2 per cent in June, while male LFPR increased from 57.6 per cent in May to 57.9 per cent in June.
Youth LFPR declined from 40.4 per cent in May to 40.3 per cent in June. Female youth LFPR declined from 20.3 per cent to 20.1 per cent, and male youth LFPR increased from 60.1 per cent to 60.3 per cent.
Urban LFPR stood at 39.8 per cent in June, for female 19.8 per cent and form male 59.6 per cent. Rural LFPR was 42.2 per cent, for 27.7 per cent for rural female and 57.1 per cent for rural male.
Monthly comparisons of the LFPR, WPR, and Unemployment rates show that workforce in the country has been under great duress, which demand urgent attention from the government. (IPA Service)
