NSO: India jobless rate increased to 5.5% in May 2026

India Jun 15, 2026

India's jobless rate ticked up to 5.5% in May 2026, compared to 5.2% in April, said the National Statistical Office (NSO).
The main reason? More people in rural areas couldn't find work. Rural unemployment jumped from 4.6% to 5.1%.
In cities, things looked a bit better, with urban unemployment dipping slightly from 6.6% to 6.4%.

India urban women unemployment drops 8.2%

Urban women saw their unemployment rate drop to 8.2%, while men's stayed steady at 5.9%.
Still, fewer women overall are joining the workforce, and rural areas are feeling the pinch as fewer people have jobs and labor participation is down across the board.
The NSO pointed out that seasonal slowdowns and weaker job markets, especially outside cities, are behind these shifts.