Unemployment Rate Rises To 6.7% In Urban Areas During January-March: Government Data

The unemployment rate saw an uptick, led by higher unemployment among urban males.

The unemployment rate in urban areas rose to 6.7% in January–March from 6.5% during October–December 2023 for persons aged 15 years and older, according to the quarterly labour force survey published on Wednesday.

For males, the unemployment rate increased to 6.1% in January–March from 5.8% in October–December 2023, while the female unemployment rate decreased to 8.5% from 8.6% during the same period.

Labour force participation rates in urban areas increased to 50.2% in January–March from 49.9% in the October–December quarter for persons aged 15 and above. For males, LFPR increased to 74.4% from 74.1% during this period, while for females, it increased to 25.6% from 25%.