The unemployment rate for those in the 15 years and above age group in the country was estimated at 5.1% in Apr while in rural areas it was at 4.5% and urban centres at 6.5%, the first monthly bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) showed on Thursday.

Among males in the 15 years and above age group the joblessness rate was 5.2% while it was 5% for females in this category.

The unemployment rate among rural male of age 15 years and above was 4.9% during Apr while it was 3.9% for females. In urban areas the joblessness rate among females in the 15 years and above age group during Apr was 8.7% compared to 5.8% for males in the same age group.

The estimates of unemployment under the current weekly status (CWS) provides an average picture of joblessness in a short period of seven days during the survey period. A person is considered as unemployed in a week if he/she did not work even for one hour on any day during the reference week but sought or was available for work at least for one hour on any day during this period.

The statistics office said that the results of the PLFS post Jan 2025 needs to be understood and used in the context with which the sample selection methodology of the survey has been designed. Previous data for the Oct-Dec quarter had shown that unemployment in urban areas was at 6.4%.

The monthly data showed that the unemployment rate in the 15-29 years age group across the country was at 13.8%. In rural areas the rate was higher among females at 14.4% while among males it was at 13.6%.