Mixed Trends in Unemployment Rates for SC, ST, OBC, and Others Over the Last Three Years: An In-Depth Analysis – Times of India

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NEW DELHI: The latest data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, sheds light on the evolving employment landscape in India, particularly focusing on the employment status, labour force participation, and unemployment rates across different social groups: Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and the general category (referred to as ‘Others’).
The PLFS categorises households into four primary social groups, with the social identity of the head of the household determining the group’s classification. While this method helps provide a general overview of employment status, it should be noted that the survey’s sample size was not tailored specifically to capture granular data for each social group. As a result, the estimates may not always be fully representative, particularly in certain states or Union Territories.
Despite this limitation, the survey highlights important trends. For instance, STs generally exhibit higher labour force participation and worker population ratios compared to SCs and OBCs. However, it’s also evident that there are significant employment gaps within each group, especially when considering gender.
LFPR, WPR, UR among various social categories: PLFS Findings

LFPR: Labour Force Participation Rate
WPR: Worker Population Ratio
UR: Unemployment Rate
All figures are in percentages
Trends in Unemployment Rates Among Various Social Groups
The data on unemployment rates for different social groups reveals a mixed trend between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Among the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population, the unemployment rate decreased from 2.4% in 2021-22 to 1.8% in 2022-23, before slightly increasing to 1.9% in 2023-24.
For the Scheduled Caste (SC) group, there was a drop from 4.4% in 2021-22 to 3.2% in 2022-23, with a minor rise to 3.3% in 2023-24. The Other Backward Classes (OBC) group saw a decrease from 3.9% in 2021-22 to 3.3% in 2022-23, followed by a further decline to 3.1% in 2023-24.
In contrast, the ‘Others’ group experienced a drop in unemployment from 4.1% in 2021-22 to 3.4% in 2022-23, but the rate increased again to 3.8% in 2023-24. At the national level, unemployment rates fell from 4.1% in 2021-22 to 3.2% in 2022-23, remaining steady at 3.2% in 2023-24. This demonstrates varying patterns across different social groups, with some showing improvement while others experienced slight increases.
Labour Force Participation Rate: Gender Disparities Persist
One of the key indicators of employment is the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which measures the proportion of individuals who are either working or actively looking for work. According to the 2023-24 PLFS data, LFPR among males remains consistently high across all social groups, with ST males showing a rate of 59.5% and OBC males at 57.5%. In contrast, female participation is markedly lower. ST females have the highest LFPR among women at 46.7%, while women in the ‘Others’ category lag behind at just 26.2%.
While the overall LFPR for the general population has risen from 41.3% in 2021-22 to 45.1% in 2023-24, gender inequality remains stark. Social group disparities also persist, with SC and OBC communities generally reporting lower participation rates than STs and ‘Others.’ For example, the LFPR for SC women was only 32.2% in 2023-24, compared to 46.7% for ST women. This gender gap underscores the ongoing challenge of encouraging women to enter and remain in the workforce.
Worker Population Ratio: Modest Gains for Women
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) represents the proportion of the population engaged in any form of economic activity. Similar to the LFPR, the WPR for men is significantly higher than for women across all social groups. In 2023-24, ST males reported a WPR of 58.2%, while SC males had a WPR of 55.6%. Meanwhile, SC females had a much lower WPR of 31.3%, reflecting the continued gender imbalance in economic participation.
However, there have been incremental gains in WPR among women across social groups. For example, the WPR for ST women rose from 39.3% in 2021-22 to 46.0% in 2023-24. Despite these improvements, female participation in the workforce remains disproportionately low. In the ‘Others’ category, which includes individuals not classified under ST, SC, or OBC, women recorded a WPR of only 24.9% in 2023-24.