India's Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.9% in February, Driven by Urban and Female Employment Gains

India's unemployment rate decreased slightly to 4.9% in February 2026 from 5% in January, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey by the National Statistics Office. Urban unemployment fell to 6.6%, while rural unemployment remained steady at 4.2%. Female unemployment declined in both rural and urban areas, with urban female unemployment dropping from 9.8% to 8.7%. Labour force participation rates showed marginal changes, with overall rates stable at 55.9%.