Per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation there is an uptick of 5.6% in May in India’s unemployment rate. The joblessness rate is up from 5.1% in April 2025. While 5.6% for men, the unemployment rate for women is 5.8% showcasing more women are out of work in the current state of pakodanomics.
Per the PLFS report, the spike in joblessness is witnessed across both rural and urban areas. In the 15-29 age group in rural areas, the unemployment rate increased by 13.7% in May which is up from 12.3% in April. The same for the urban area is 17.9% in May, which is up from 17.2% in April.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) slipped month-on-month with 54.1% in May for rural areas in the age group 15 and above. The same for urban area was 46.9%
PTI INFOGRAPHICS | Unemployment rate rises to 5.6 pc in May, female joblessness higher at 5.7 pc
READ: https://t.co/OANrY5TOB4 pic.twitter.com/qGhlcQuNcB
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 16, 2025
The second-ever Periodic Labour Force Survey report released showed that the #unemploymentrate in May was higher among females (5.8%) than males (5.6%).https://t.co/8fRid6a7EC pic.twitter.com/0NcgW02n0F
— Scroll.in (@scroll_in) June 17, 2025
India’s unemployment rate rises 5.6% in May from 5.1% in April.
Officials statistics are only the tip of the iceberg —
Actual misery is much higher.
If not remedied, Unemployment will wreck India’s economy and ambition to go higher. https://t.co/AajBAPSdH8
— Jawhar Sircar (@jawharsircar) June 17, 2025
Reactions poured in with netizens taking “4th largest economy” jibes at the report. Several users took a dig saying that the data was fake at best and that the actual uptick in the unemployment rate was higher. “Fake data, there is no unemployment in India,” wrote one.
Another user remarked, “Govt and its data kabhi sahi nhi hote.” A third user commented, “Government ko ghanta farak nahi padta because janta ji andhi hai.” Yet another user remarked, “5.6% ? Abe more than 40% unemployed hai aur baki jo naukri kar rahe hai unki salary range 7k to 12k hai aur is salary bracket range main bahut jyada population ka part ata hai. Ab ye govt to bc pata ni kya data nikal deti hai.”
A fifth user noted, “1.2% to mere gao ke hi hai ladke.. sara din pubg khel rahe hai.. rat ko sutte mar rahe hai.” One user quipped, “Please remove the decimal point …it shud be 56%.”
Fake data there is no unemployment in india.
— Aamir Khan mansuri (@Aamir_mansori) June 16, 2025
Govt and its data kabhi sahi nhi hote
— Mohit Jain (@JainYoungster) June 16, 2025
Government ko ganta fark nai padta bcz janta ji andhi hai
— Meet Shah (@Meethshaah92) June 16, 2025
5.6% ? Abe more than 40% unemployed hai aur baki jo naukri kar rahe hai unki salary range 7k to 12k hai aur is salary bracket range main bahut jyada population ka part ata hai. Ab ye govt to bc pata ni kya data nikal deti hai.
— jon snow (@till_you_see) June 16, 2025
1.2% to mere gao ke hi hai ladke.. sara din pubg khel rahe hai.. rat ko sutte mar rahe hau
— Sudama OP (@Khul_ke_haso) June 16, 2025
Please remove the decimal point …it shud be 56%.
Employed ppl in govt sector are also most of the times unemployed otherwise how come IPL Final has become the most watched sporting event.
— The North East Guy (@KJ23_ROH) June 16, 2025
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Cover: Patrick Gawande / Mashable India