India: jobs and pay

What is the labour force participation rate in India?

India's labour force participation rate for people aged 15 and over was 55.6% in August 2026, up from 55.4% in July, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released on 15 September 2026. In rural areas it was 58.2%, 1.2 percentage points higher than a year earlier.

The participation rate is the share of people who are working or looking for work. The monthly figures use current weekly status, meaning activity in the week before the survey, so they differ from the annual figures based on usual status. The overall unemployment rate in August 2026 was 5.0%.

Official sources: PIB: PLFS Monthly Bulletin, August 2026

How many women work in India?

The female labour force participation rate for women aged 15 and over was 34.8% in August 2026, 1.1 percentage points higher than in August 2025, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. That means about one in three women of working age was working or looking for work in the survey week.

The rate is much lower than for men, and is higher in rural than in urban areas. Much women's work, such as unpaid help in a family farm or business, is counted only if it meets the survey definitions. The annual PLFS report gives figures by state, age and education.

Official sources: PIB: PLFS Monthly Bulletin, August 2026

What is the average salary in India?

Men in regular wage or salaried jobs earned ₹24,217 on average in 2025, up about 5.8% from ₹22,891 in 2024, and women earned ₹18,353, up about 7.2%, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025 from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, published on 27 March 2026. Self-employed men earned ₹17,914 and self-employed women ₹6,374.

The survey collects regular workers' earnings for the previous month, so these are monthly figures, in nominal terms. Regular salaried jobs are a minority of all work in India, and averages are pulled up by high earners, so a typical worker earns less than the mean. Casual labourers are paid by the day.

Official sources: PIB: PLFS Annual Report 2025

How much do casual labourers earn per day in India?

Male casual labourers (other than in public works) earned ₹455 a day on average in 2025, almost unchanged from ₹456 in 2024, while women casual labourers earned ₹315, up from ₹299, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025 from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Casual labour means work paid by the day or task, without a regular contract, common in farming and construction. These are averages across India, and wages differ widely between states and between rural and urban areas. Legal minimum wages are set by the central government for its sphere and by each state for theirs, and are revised for inflation through a variable dearness allowance.

Official sources: PIB: PLFS Annual Report 2025

What share of Indians have a job?

The worker population ratio for people aged 15 and over was 52.8% in August 2026, the highest since March 2026, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey monthly bulletin from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. In rural areas it was 55.8%, up 1.3 percentage points on a year earlier.

The worker population ratio is the share of the population that is employed, and is the closest Indian equivalent of an employment rate. It counts self-employed people, helpers in family enterprises and casual workers as employed, as well as people in regular jobs. The monthly series began in 2025, so long-run comparisons use the annual PLFS reports.

Official sources: PIB: PLFS Monthly Bulletin, August 2026

What is the minimum wage in India?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2024, is 4,628 INR a month (about $55). No year since 2012 has been higher.

How much do workers in India earn on average?

According to the ILO, average monthly earnings of employees in India was $255 a month in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2012. Worldwide: 54th of 57.

What is the unemployment rate in India?

In 2025, the unemployment rate in India was 4.2%, according to the ILO. The peak was 7.9% in 2020 and the low 4.2% in 2023. South Asia median: 4.1%; India is 3rd highest of 6. World rank, highest first: 106th of 174.

What is the youth unemployment rate in India?

16.0%: that is unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in India for 2025, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 15.6% (2023) to 26.0% (2018). Across South Asia the middle value was 16.5%, and India placed 4th highest of 6. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 65th highest.

How many people in India are working or looking for work?

According to the ILO, the labour force participation rate in India was 55.7% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 51.5% (2020) to 59.3% (2005). Across South Asia the middle value was 57.2%, and India placed 4th highest of 6. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 130th highest.

How many women in India are working or looking for work?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in India was 32.4%, according to the ILO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 26.0% (2020) to 34.9% (2005). Across South Asia the middle value was 35.5%, and India placed 4th highest of 6. Worldwide: 154th of 174.

What is the employment rate in India?

According to the ILO, the employment to population ratio in India was 53.3% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 47.5% (2020) to 54.8% (2005). Across South Asia the middle value was 54.9%, and India placed 4th highest of 6. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 124th highest.

How common is self-employment in India?

According to the ILO, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in India was 71.6% in 2025. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 2nd highest of 6 in South Asia, where the median is 63.2%. World rank, highest first: 24th of 174.

How many people in India are employees?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are paid employees in India at 25.1% in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. South Asia median: 34.7%; India is 5th highest of 6. World rank, highest first: 148th of 174.