The National Sample Survey (NSS) under the National Statistics Office (NSO) recently released a report compiling district-wise data on the labour market for 2025. According to Business Standard, NSS Director General Geeta Singh Rathore emphasized in the preface that the estimates are expected to be useful to policymakers, state and district administrations, researchers, academics and other stakeholders for policy formulation, planning, monitoring and analytical work. The comprehensive survey provides granular insights into regional employment patterns that can inform targeted interventions and policy decisions.
According to Datanomics data reported by Business Standard, India's first district-level unemployment survey revealed that 9 of the 584 districts recorded double-digit unemployment rates in 2025. The survey showed that slightly more districts had unemployment rates below the national average than above it, with 50.5% of districts recording unemployment rates lower than the all-India figure of 3.1%. Conversely, 48% of districts had higher joblessness levels compared to the national average. The NSS report indicates that National Sample Survey findings reveal significant divergence between combined and demographic-specific joblessness figures across key districts, highlighting the importance of granular analysis for effective policymaking.
The survey identified 1.5% of total districts (9 districts) with double-digit unemployment rates, as reported by Datanomics. Papum Pare in Arunachal Pradesh emerged as the district with the highest unemployment rate at 16.1%, significantly above the national average. Rajasthan also recorded two districts with double-digit unemployment rates, indicating regional variations in joblessness across the country. The NSS report underscores the need for granular analysis of district-level data to understand the underlying causes of unemployment in these hotspots and develop targeted interventions.
The survey established 3.1% as the national unemployment rate for 2025, according to Datanomics data. Interestingly, 1.5% of districts recorded exactly 3.1% unemployment rate, suggesting these areas were at the national average level. This distribution pattern indicates that while unemployment varied significantly across different regions, the national benchmark provided a clear reference point for comparison across all districts surveyed. The NSS report emphasizes that the estimates are expected to be useful for policy formulation, planning, monitoring and analytical work, making granular district-level analysis essential for effective policymaking.
