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 June of 2025.

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.

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.

In a survey conducted between July 2023 and June 2024, the rate of labor participation for the urban male population was over 59 percent compared to the over 22 percent rate among females. The rate of labor participation in rural areas was lower across genders.

The PLFS survey 2023-24 estimated that the labor force participation rate (LFPR) in urban areas increased to over 52 percent, higher than the previous year but still lower than in the rural areas. Labor force participation across the country stood at just over 60 percent.

Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in India was reported at 44.01 % 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, male (modeled ILO estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

India Labour Force Participation Rate: Female data was reported at 17.500 % in 2018. India Labour Force Participation Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 17.500 % from Jun 2018 (Median) to 2018, with 1 observations. India Labour Force Participation Rate: 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.

The female labor force participation rate in India increased by 4.7 percentage points (+16.8 percent) in 2023 in comparison to the previous year. With 32.68 percent, the rate thereby reached its highest value 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.

India labor force participation rate for 2023 was 30.22%, a 1.32% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India labor force participation rate for 2022 was <strong>28.90%</strong>, a <strong>0.5% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>India labor force participation rate for 2021 was <strong>28.40%</strong>, a <strong>0.15% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>India labor force participation rate for 2020 was <strong>28.55%</strong>, a <strong>0.77% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education) in India was reported at 55.94 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Labor force with basic education (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education) in India was reported at 65.27 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. India - Labor force with advanced education (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The Indian male labor force in general was in a state of steady growth during the presented timeframe. The dominant category is men between the age of 25 to 54, which has increased to 277 million in 2021. All categories saw visible inclrease. Labor force includes persons of working age who are actively engaged in the labor market. It is the sum of persons employed and the unemployed.

In the financial year 2024, the labor force participation rate in India was the highest among Christians, at over 42 percent. The LFPR was the lowest among Muslims during the period. LFPR has declined for all religions since the financial year 2017.

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 June of 2025.

Dataset

This dataset was created by Prit11

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Contents

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.

The Indian female labor force in general was in a state of steady growth during the presented timeframe. The dominant category is women between the age of 25 to 54, which has increased to 86.18 million in 2021. All categories saw visible increases. The labor force includes persons of working age who are actively engaged in the labor market. It is the sum of persons employed and the unemployed.

India Labour Force Participation: Per 1000 Persons: Urban: Male data was reported at 563.000 Person in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 559.000 Person for 2010. India Labour Force Participation: Per 1000 Persons: Urban: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 551.000 Person from Jun 1988 (Median) to 2012, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 570.000 Person in 2005 and a record low of 534.000 Person in 1988. India Labour Force Participation: Per 1000 Persons: Urban: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Sample Survey Organisation. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GBA016: Employment and Unemployment Survey: Labour Force Participation.

In 2022, 42.86 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.

The statistic represents the female labor force participation rate calculated from the results of a 2015 survey among households in India. The survey was conducted between April and December 2015, and the results were broken down by state and union territory. The LFPR among females in the union territory of Chandigarh was the highest, followed by the state of Chhattisgarh with approximately 54 percent during the surveyed time period.