Data to 5 October 2026
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How is the economy doing?

Unemployment rate (PLFS)

5.0%
of the labour force, Aug 2026

The series starts in 2025, too recently to say what is usual for it. Down from 5.1% a year ago.

2025202520252026202620264.6%4.8%5.0%5.2%5.4%5.6%usual range, 5.0% to 5.2%5.0%2025202520252026202620264.6%4.8%5.0%5.2%5.4%5.6%5.6%, May 20254.7%, Nov 2025usual range, 5.0% to 5.2%5.0%2025202520252026202620264.6%4.8%5.0%5.2%5.4%5.6%5.6%, May 20254.7%, Nov 2025usual range, 5.0% to 5.2%5.0%2025202520252026202620264.6%4.8%5.0%5.2%5.4%5.6%5.6%, May 20254.7%, Nov 2025usual range, 5.0% to 5.2%5.0%

What it is. The share of the labour force without work, from the monthly labour survey.

How to read it. The monthly survey only began in 2025, so there is no long history to compare with yet.

Source: MoSPI / National Statistics Office, eSankhyiki API Method Data

The numbers

Latest5.0%Aug 2026
A week ago5.1%
A month ago5.1%
A year ago5.1%
Usual range5.0% to 5.2%
Median5.1%
Lowest4.7%1 Nov 2025
Highest5.6%1 May 2025
Percentile, full history29
Percentile, last 5 years29

The usual range is the middle half of readings since 2025. A percentile is the share of the 17 readings since 1 Apr 2025 that were below today's. Data: statistics, history (JSON); history as CSV.

To cite: tipsheet, “Unemployment rate (PLFS)”, data to Aug 2026, https://tipsheet.markets/i/unemployment-rate/

Read it with

Real GDP growth 7.8%above usual
Market value of NSE-listed companies ₹467.7 lakh crbelow its record
Industrial production growth 8.0%usual
Companies listed on NSE 3,055record high
WPI inflation 9.9%above usual
Core CPI inflation 4.4%usual

the usual range: the middle half of all readingstodayEach line runs from the lowest reading ever to the highest.