Archive · 19 Sep 2026
India Releases First-Ever District-Level Labour Market Indicators Nationwide
India has published its first detailed report on jobs and workers in each district.
It looked at people aged 15 and older.
Most districts had unemployment rates between 0.5% and 5.5%.
In 57.8% of districts, at least 40% of women were part of the labour force.
Hamirpur had the highest female participation and worker rates among the selected districts.
Surat and Araria had the highest overall participation and worker rates among the 100 most populous districts.
More than three-quarters of districts had fewer than 30% of young people neither working nor studying.
Officials said district-level information can help governments plan better policies.
About 78% of Indian districts recorded unemployment rates between 0.5% and 5.5% for people aged 15 and above.
Female labour force participation reached at least 40% in 57.8% of districts.
Hamirpur recorded the highest female labour force participation and worker population ratios among selected districts.
Surat and Araria recorded the highest labour force participation and worker population ratios among the 100 most populous districts.
More than 76% of districts reported youth NEET rates below 30%, with Ernakulam and Coimbatore recording the lowest rates.
- Who
- India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, through the National Sample Survey, released the indicators.
- What
- The ministry released India’s first district-level labour market indicators, covering unemployment, labour force participation, worker population, and youth NEET rates.
- When
- The indicators were released on Friday; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Across districts in India.
- Why
- The data is intended to provide a more detailed view of local economic and labour-market conditions and support evidence-based planning and policymaking.
- Unemployment coverage
- About 78% of districts recorded unemployment rates of 0.5% to 5.5% among people aged 15 and above.
- Female LFPR
- 57.8% of districts recorded female labour force participation rates of at least 40%.
- Highest female rates
- Hamirpur recorded a female LFPR of 80.9% and a female WPR of 80% among selected districts.
- Most populous districts
- Surat and Araria recorded the highest LFPR and WPR among the 100 most populous districts.
- Lowest unemployment
- South 24 Parganas and Araria each recorded an unemployment rate of 0.9% among the cited populous districts.
- Youth NEET rates
- More than 76% of districts reported NEET rates below 30% among people aged 15-29.