Dr. Gyan Pathak
Rural youth unemployment in February 2026 rose four months high to 13.1 per cent in Current Weekly Status (CWS), while for urban youths it remained even higher at 18.3 per cent, shows the latest data of the monthly bulletin of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the month of February 2026.
It shows that unemployment among youth of age group 15-29 years in rural areas has been continuously on the rise since November 2025 when it was 12.4 per cent. It rose to 12.6 per cent in December 2026 and 12.8 per cent in January 2026. The trend is quite disconcerting because youth unemployment rose during the reaping of the Kharif and sowing of the Rabi crops, when agricultural activities usually rise.
Unemployment for both the rural male and female youth rose in February. Female youth unemployment in the rural areas was worse than male youth unemployment in the last five months for which the bulleting has provided data. Female youth unemployment in rural areas rose to 14.6 per cent in February from 14.2 per cent in January. It was 13.2 per cent in October 2025, which improved a little during November and December 2025, when it was 12.5 and 12.7 per cent respectively. Male youth unemployment in the rural areas rose from 12.3 per cent in January 2026 to 12.5 per cent in February 2026.
For all age, there was no improvement in the unemployment rate in the rural areas which remained at 4.2 per cent in February as in January. There was little improvement for rural female unemployment which came down to 4 per cent in February from 4.3 per cent in January. However, rural male unemployment worsened to 4.3 per cent in February from 4.1 per cent in January.
Urban youth unemployment improved a little and came down from 18.6 per cent in January to 18.3 per cent in February. It was because female youth unemployment improved from 26.4 per cent in January to 24.9 per cent in February. Nevertheless, male youth unemployment in urban areas rose to 16.1 per cent in February, which was five months high since October 2025. In these five months lowest urban male youth unemployment was in November 2025 when it was 15.3 per cent.
For all age group urban unemployment has registered little improvement, which was 7 per cent in January and came down to 6.6 per cent in February. Urban female unemployment came down to 8.7 per cent in February from 9.8 per cent in January. Urban male unemployment also registered a little improvement which came down from 6 per cent in January to 5.9 per cent in February.
All India youth unemployment rate has risen to four months high to 14.8 per cent in February from 14.1 per cent in October 2025. Male youth unemployment rose to 13.7 per cent in February from 13.6 per cent in January. Female youth unemployment came down to 17.6 per cent in February from 17.8 per cent in January.
All India unemployment rate improved a little from 5 per cent in January to 4.9 per cent in February. Female unemployment improved to 5.1 per cent in February from 5.6 per cent in January. Male unemployment remained stagnant at 4.8 per in January and February.
As for Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in CWS, that is the number of persons who worked for at least 1 hour on any day during the 7 days preceding the date of survey, there was little improvement, which rose to 40.3 per cent in February from 40.1 per cent in January. Female WPR during rose from 25.4 per cent in January to 25.7 per cent in January. However male WPR registered a decline to 55 per cent in February, from 55.1 per cent in January.
WPR for youth was very low at 35.9 per cent in February, a marginal decline from 36 per cent in January. WPR for female youth declined from 19.1 per cent in January to 19 per cent in February, while WPR for male youth declined from 53 per cent in January to 52.8 per cent in February.
WPR for urban areas in February was 37.2 per cent, 18.6 per cent for female, and 55.2 per cent for male. Low female WPR in urban areas is a serious concern, which is even less at 15.8 per cent for female youth.
WPR in rural areas in February was at 41.7 per cent, 29 per cent for female and 54.9 per cent for male. For youth it was 37 per cent, 20.5 per cent for female and 54.1 per cent for male.
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in CWS, that the number of persons either employed or unemployed on an average in a week of 7 days preceding the day of survey, was stagnant at 42.3 per cent in January and February. It was 27.1 per cent for female and 57.7 per cent for male in February.
LFPR for youth declined from 42.3 per cent in January to 42.1 per cent in February. Female youth LFPR declined to 23.1 per cent from 23.2 per cent, and male youth LFPR declined from 61.3 per cent to 61.2 per cent.
Urban LFPR remains stagnant at 39.8 per cent since December 2025. Urban female LFPR is stagnant at 20.4 per cent in January and February, while for male it declined from 58.7 per cent 58.6 per cent.
LFPR for urban youth declined from 41.6 per cent in January to 41.3 per cent in February, for female it declined from 21.9 per cent to 21 per cent, and for male it rose to 60 per cent from 59.9 per cent.
LFPR in rural areas in February was 43.5 per cent, still low from 43.8 per cent in December 2025. Female LFPR in rural areas in February was 30.2 per cent, and male LFPR at 57.3 per cent.
LFPR for rural youth remained stagnant at 42.6 per cent in January and February. It was 24 per cent for rural female youth and 61.8 per cent for rural male youth. (IPA Service)
The post Rural youth unemployment in February 2026 rose to 13.1 per cent appeared first on Daily Excelsior.