Rural revival, urban strain: India’s jobless rate falls to 5.2% but cracks remain beneath the surface

India’s unemployment rate declined to 5.2% in the July–September 2025 quarter from 5.4% previously, driven by rural job gains during the monsoon season, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). While female participation rose to 33.7%, urban joblessness slightly increased to 6.9%, revealing structural weaknesses and dependence on seasonal, low-productivity rural employment, Reuters reported.