Labor Force Participation Rate in India remained unchanged at 50.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 50.40 percent in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - India Labor Force Participation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The female labor force participation rate in India increased by *** percentage points (*************) in 2024. While the growth is slowing down, with 32.8 percent, the rate is at its peak in the observed period. Female labor force participation is the share of women over 15 years who are economically active. For example, all women providing labor in a specific period for the production of goods and services.

Key information about India Labour Force Participation Rate

• India Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 45.1 % in Dec 2024, compared with 42.4 % in the previous year.
• India Labour Force Participation Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2024, with an average rate of 57.4 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 60.1 % in Dec 2000 and a record low of 36.9 % in Dec 2018.
• India Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, India Population reached 1,408.0 million people in Mar 2025.
• Unemployment Rate of India increased to 7.1 % in Dec 2020.

Labor force, total in India was reported at 607691498 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Labor force, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

India: Female labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 32.8 percent, an increase from 31.24 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 51.13 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1990 to 2024 is 30.43 percent. The minimum value, 26 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 34.85 percent was recorded in 2005.

Employment Rate in India remained unchanged at 47.20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 47.20 percent in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - India Worker Population Ratio- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Historical dataset showing India labor force participation rate by year from 1990 to 2024.

In a survey conducted between July 2023 and June 2024, the rate of labor participation for the urban male population was over ** percent compared to the over ** percent rate among females. The rate of labor participation in rural areas was lower across genders.

India Labour Force Participation Rate: Urban: Female data was reported at 15.900 % in 2018. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Urban: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 15.900 % from Jun 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Urban: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GBA004: Periodic Labour Force Survey: Annual: Labour Force Participation Rate: Usual Status.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in India was reported at 45.92 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

The PLFS survey 2023-24 estimated that the labor force participation rate (LFPR) in urban areas increased to over ** percent, higher than the previous year but still lower than in the rural areas. Labor force participation across the country stood at just over ** percent.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (national estimate) in India was reported at 44.67 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

India Labour Force Participation Rate: Youth Adults: Aged 25+ data was reported at 62.994 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 63.267 % for 2023. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Youth Adults: Aged 25+ data is updated yearly, averaging 61.872 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2024, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 65.656 % in 2005 and a record low of 54.732 % in 2018. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Youth Adults: Aged 25+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.

Key information about India Labour Productivity Growth

• India Labour Productivity dropped by 2.80 % YoY in Dec 2022, compared with a growth of 3.99 % in the previous year
• India Labour Productivity Growth data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1992 to Dec 2022, averaging at 4.31 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 9.15 % in Dec 2016 and a record low of 0.74 % in Dec 2000

CEIC shifts year-end for annual Labour Force Participation Rate. CEIC calculates annual Labour Productivity Growth from annual Real GDP and annual Employment. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation provides Real GDP in local currency based on NAS 2011-12, at 2011-12 prices. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development provides Employment data. Labour Productivity Growth prior to 2013 is based on World Bank's GDP per person employed, 2021 PPP

India Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Aggregate Bands: Total Age data was reported at 34.389 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 35.084 % for 2023. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Aggregate Bands: Total Age data is updated yearly, averaging 30.694 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2024, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37.710 % in 2001 and a record low of 20.746 % in 2018. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Female: Aggregate Bands: Total Age data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Labour Organization. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.ILO.LFS: Labour Force Participation Rate: By Sex and Age: Annual.

Employment Rate in India - values from PLFS and UNDP for male, female, rural, urban, and comparison with global peers.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in India was reported at 30.76 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (modeled ILO estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in India was reported at 76.41 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

In 2023, 43.51 percent of the workforce in India were employed in agriculture, while the other half was almost evenly distributed among the two other sectors, industry and services. While the share of Indians working in agriculture is declining, it is still the main sector of employment. A BRIC powerhouseTogether with Brazil, Russia, and China, India makes up the four so-called BRIC countries. They are the four fastest-growing emerging countries dubbed BRIC, an acronym, by Jim O’Neill at Goldman Sachs. Being major economies themselves already, these four countries are said to be at a similar economic developmental stage -- on the verge of becoming industrialized countries -- and maybe even dominating the global economy. Together, they are already larger than the rest of the world when it comes to GDP and simple population figures. Among these four, India is ranked second across almost all key indicators, right behind China. Services on the riseWhile most of the Indian workforce is still employed in the agricultural sector, it is the services sector that generates most of the country’s GDP. In fact, when looking at GDP distribution across economic sectors, agriculture lags behind with a mere 15 percent contribution. Some of the leading services industries are telecommunications, software, textiles, and chemicals, and production only seems to increase – currently, the GDP in India is growing, as is employment.

As per a survey conducted across the country among students, the participation at work for men in India was expected to be ** percent in 2024, a decrease from the participation rate in 2023. A fluctuating trend emerged in the participation rate of this segment of India's workforce since 2016. Meanwhile, the participation at work for women in the organized sector increased from ** percent in 2023 to ** percent in 2024 but still a wide gender gap persists.