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 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.

Labor Force Participation Rate in India increased to 55 percent in August from 54.90 percent in July of 2025. 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.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for India (SLEMPTOTLSPZSIND) from 1991 to 2024 about employment-population ratio, India, population, and employment.

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.

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: 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.

Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education) in India was reported at 65.31 % in 2024, 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 October of 2025.

India Part Time Employment: % of Total Employment data was reported at 23.990 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 20.850 % for 2022. India Part Time Employment: % of Total Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 18.080 % from Dec 2018 (Median) to 2023, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.990 % in 2023 and a record low of 14.440 % in 2019. India Part Time Employment: % of Total Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Part time employment refers to regular employment in which working time is substantially less than normal. Definitions of part time employment differ by country.;International Labour Organization. “Wages and Working Time Statistics database (COND)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;Relevance to gender indicator: More and more women are working part-time and one of the concern is that part time work does not provide the stability that full time work does.

Over *** million people were estimated to be employed in India in the financial year 2023, around a three percent increase from the previous year. The employed workforce was estimated to grow to over *** million in the financial year 2024. Agriculture accounts for the highest share of the workforce in the country, followed by the services sector.

Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education) in India was reported at 55.95 % in 2024, 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 October of 2025.

India: Male labor force participation rate: The latest value from 2024 is 77.08 percent, an increase from 76.78 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 69.88 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1990 to 2024 is 80.78 percent. The minimum value, 75.69 percent, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 84.3 percent was recorded in 2000.

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

India IN: Employment Index data was reported at 100.000 2010=100 in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.387 2010=100 for 2005. India IN: Employment Index data is updated yearly, averaging 7.291 2010=100 from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2010, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 2010=100 in 2010 and a record low of 6.567 2010=100 in 1985. India IN: Employment Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Workforce data for the unorganised sector - total registrations on the eSHRAM portal including gender, age, social category, income, sector, and states.

India Employment: Private Sector: 25 or More Workers data was reported at 10,721.000 Person th in 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,273.000 Person th for 2011. India Employment: Private Sector: 25 or More Workers data is updated yearly, averaging 7,489.100 Person th from Mar 1984 (Median) to 2012, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,721.000 Person th in 2012 and a record low of 6,479.000 Person th in 1985. India Employment: Private Sector: 25 or More Workers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s India – Table IN.GBA001: Employment.

Subscription data from EPF, ESIC, and NPS across gender, age, industry, and states, including expert analysis.

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.