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The Periodic Labour Force Survey quarterly bulletin (January to March 2024) has showed that the unemployment rate in urban areas for persons aged 15 and above has decreased to 6.7 per cent during the previous quarter January to March 2024. The unemployment rate was 6.8 per cent during the corresponding period last year. It also highlighted that the female unemployment rate also decreased from 9.2 per cent in January – March last year to 8.5 per cent in January – March 2024.
It showed an increase in the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and decreasing Unemployment Rates (UR) in urban areas. According to the data by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, the Labour Force Participation Rate in urban areas has also shown an increasing trend from 48.5 per cent to 50.2 per cent during January to March 2024 period in comparison to the corresponding period of last year.
In the same period, Female Labour Force Participation Rate in urban areas increased from 22.7 per cent to 25.6 per cent. The survey highlights an increasing trend in the worker population ratio for persons of age 15 years and above to 46.9 per cent from 45.2 per cent. The female worker population ratio in urban areas also rises from 20.6 per cent to 23.4 per cent during the survey period.