India's Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.9% in February with Urban and Female Gains

India's unemployment rate marginally declined to 4.9% in February 2026 from 5% in January, driven by improvements in urban labor markets and a decrease in female unemployment across rural and urban areas, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey. Urban unemployment fell to 6.6%, while rural unemployment remained steady at 4.2%. Female unemployment dropped to 5.1%, with male unemployment stable at 4.8%. Youth unemployment rose slightly to 14.8%, reflecting ongoing challenges in job creation for young workers. Labour force participation rates remained largely unchanged.