Economy
Unemployment Rate
Share of the labour force that is unemployed (not working but actively seeking work), under the usual status (ps+ss) concept.
Tamil Nadu, latest
3.0%
2023-24
Change
-14.3%
2011-12 → 2023-24
Rank vs compared states
#5 of 5
TN vs MH, KA, GJ, UP · lower is better
Tamil Nadu's Unemployment rate is 3.0% (2023-24), down +14.3% since 2011-12. It ranks #5 of 5 compared states (lower is better).
Read this number carefully
- Series break at 2017-18: Source switched from NSS Quinquennial EUS (68th round, 2011-12) to the continuous PLFS. Sample design and reference period definitions differ; the 2011-12 point is a one-off benchmark and should not be trend-compared to PLFS values without caveats.. Values before and after are not directly comparable.
Tamil Nadu's Unemployment rate fell from 3.5% (2011-12) to 3.0% (2023-24).
Source: National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI
Compare with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh
- 1 TN Tamil Nadu 3.0% 2023-24
- 2 UP Uttar Pradesh 2.5% 2023-24
- 3 MH Maharashtra 2.2% 2023-24
- 4 KA Karnataka 1.5% 2023-24
- 5 GJ Gujarat 1.1% 2023-24
Tamil Nadu highlighted. Each row shows that state's value and the year it is from — compare like years with care.
Where this data comes from
The provenance of every value above and how to cite it.
Source provenance
Observations come from 2 distinct sources, segmented below by period.
-
FY12
↗National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), MoSPI
NSS 68th Round Employment & Unemployment Survey (2011-12)
5 observations across 5 states · Tier 2
-
FY18 → FY24
Primary ↗National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI
PLFS Annual Report 2023-24
35 observations across 5 states · Tier 2
Click any segment to open the source publication and verify the values yourself.
Methodology & notes
PLFS Annual Report estimates, usual status (ps+ss), all ages, total (rural+urban). UR = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100. PLFS years are July–June.
Known series breaks
- 2017-18: Source switched from NSS Quinquennial EUS (68th round, 2011-12) to the continuous PLFS. Sample design and reference period definitions differ; the 2011-12 point is a one-off benchmark and should not be trend-compared to PLFS values without caveats.
Alternate sources tracked
- · National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), MoSPI (NSS Employment & Unemployment Survey (Quinquennial))
All values
Every observation, by state and period. Newest first.
Tamil Nadu
- FY24 2023-24 3.0%
- FY23 2022-23 3.6%
- FY22 2021-22 4.3%
- FY21 2020-21 4.1%
- FY20 2019-20 4.9%
- FY19 2018-19 6.0%
- FY18 2017-18 7.7%
- FY12 2011-12 3.5%
Maharashtra 8 values
- FY24 2023-24 2.2%
- FY23 2022-23 2.5%
- FY22 2021-22 2.8%
- FY21 2020-21 3.1%
- FY20 2019-20 3.6%
- FY19 2018-19 4.5%
- FY18 2017-18 5.7%
- FY12 2011-12 2.3%
Karnataka 8 values
- FY24 2023-24 1.5%
- FY23 2022-23 1.8%
- FY22 2021-22 2.0%
- FY21 2020-21 2.2%
- FY20 2019-20 2.5%
- FY19 2018-19 3.0%
- FY18 2017-18 4.8%
- FY12 2011-12 1.7%
Gujarat 8 values
- FY24 2023-24 1.1%
- FY23 2022-23 1.7%
- FY22 2021-22 1.6%
- FY21 2020-21 2.7%
- FY20 2019-20 3.5%
- FY19 2018-19 3.4%
- FY18 2017-18 4.8%
- FY12 2011-12 1.0%
Uttar Pradesh 8 values
- FY24 2023-24 2.5%
- FY23 2022-23 2.4%
- FY22 2021-22 3.4%
- FY21 2020-21 4.2%
- FY20 2019-20 4.1%
- FY19 2018-19 6.4%
- FY18 2017-18 5.9%
- FY12 2011-12 3.0%
Cross-state comparison (FY24)
Sorted low → high. Tamil Nadu highlighted.