India's Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.8% in December, Urban Joblessness Drives Increase

• India's unemployment rate marginally increased to 4.8% in December from 4.7% in November.
• The rise in joblessness occurred despite an increase in labour force participation (LFPR) to 56.1% and worker population ratio (WPR) to 53.4%.
• Urban areas saw a significant rise in unemployment, climbing to 6.7% from 6.5%, while rural unemployment remained stable at 3.9%.
• Female labour force participation (LFPR) reached a yearly high of 35.3%, with urban female unemployment slightly easing to 9.1%.
• The overall increase in unemployment is attributed more to a growing workforce entering the job market than a contraction in employment.

Why It Matters: India's unemployment rose slightly in December, primarily due to increased urban joblessness amidst a growing workforce.