FX.co ★ India’s Unemployment Rate Climbs to 5.1% in March

India’s unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in March 2026 from 4.9% in February, in line with market expectations and marking the highest level since October 2025. The increase reflected higher joblessness in both urban areas (6.8% vs. 6.6%) and rural regions (4.3% vs. 4.2%). Women were particularly affected, with the urban female unemployment rate climbing to 9.0% from 8.7% and the rural female rate edging up to 4.1% from 4.0%. Male unemployment also ticked higher, reaching 6.1% (from 5.9%) in urban areas and 4.4% (from 4.2%) in rural areas. At the same time, the employment rate slipped to 52.6% from 53.2%, and the labor force participation rate declined to 55.4% from 55.9%, indicating a modest deterioration in overall labor market conditions.