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The overall Labour Force Participation Rate for persons aged 15 and above rose to 55.6 per cent in August 2026 from 55.4 per cent in July.
Worker Population Ratio reached 52.8 per cent, the highest since March 2026, driven by rural areas.
Rural unemployment fell to 4.1 per cent, its lowest since January 2026, while the overall rate held at 5.0 per cent.
Overall female LFPR rose for a second consecutive month to 34.8 per cent, with rural female LFPR up 2.0 percentage points year-on-year.
LFPR is the share of a population working or seeking work; WPR the share actually working; UR the share of the labour force that is seeking work without finding it. UR is measured against the labour force, not against the whole population.
| Aspect | Current Weekly Status (CWS) | Usual Status (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Reference period | The 7 days preceding the date of survey | The 365 days preceding the date of survey |
| Where used | The monthly and quarterly PLFS bulletins, including this one | The PLFS annual report |
| Effect on the estimate | Captures short-term and seasonal work, so unemployment usually reads higher | Smooths seasonality, so unemployment usually reads lower |
Conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey and compiles national accounts and price indices
Publishes the PLFS monthly bulletins and annual reports on mospi.gov.in
Evolves policies, priorities and standards in statistical matters; set up by a Government resolution of 1 June 2005 on the recommendation of the Rangarajan Commission and constituted with effect from 12 July 2006. It has a part-time Chairperson, four part-time Members and an ex-officio Member
GS Paper 3 > Indian Economy > Employment, Growth and Development
General Awareness > Indian Economy and Official Data Releases
Activity status judged over the seven days preceding the survey; the basis of all PLFS monthly bulletin estimates.
The percentage of the population that is actually employed - 52.8 per cent in August 2026.
The arithmetic difference between two percentages; rural LFPR rose 1.2 percentage points year-on-year, which is not the same as a 1.2 per cent rise.