PLFS September 2026: unemployment rate falls to 5%, LFPR at 55.5%
Why in the news
On 15 October 2026, the National Statistics Office (NSO) released monthly labour market estimates for September 2026, showing a year-on-year fall in the unemployment rate to 5%.
Key facts
- LFPR (share of people working or seeking work) increased to 55.5%.
- WPR (share of people employed) rose to 52.7% year-on-year.
- Unemployment rate (UR) came down to 5%, 0.2 percentage points lower than in September 2025.
- Rural UR declined to 4.2%; urban UR was broadly stable at 6.8%.
- Rural areas showed stronger participation growth, while urban LFPR slipped marginally year-on-year.
- Urban WPR reached its highest level since October 2025 and improved for both men and women.
- Female participation improved over the year, especially in rural areas; urban female participation touched its highest level since October 2025.
September 2026 snapshot
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| LFPR (overall) | 55.5% |
| WPR (overall) | 52.7% |
| Unemployment rate (overall) | 5% |
| Unemployment rate (rural) | 4.2% |
| Unemployment rate (urban) | 6.8% |
About the indicators
The figures come from the NSO’s monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey estimates. LFPR measures the labour force as a share of the population, WPR measures employed persons as a share of the population, and the unemployment rate measures the unemployed as a share of the labour force.
Exam angle
- Know the difference between LFPR, WPR and UR.
- Remember: UR 5%, LFPR 55.5%, WPR 52.7%, rural UR 4.2%, urban UR 6.8%.
- The data is released by the NSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.