India’s unemployment rate surged to 9.2% in June 2024, the highest in eight months, up from 7% in May and 8.5% in June 2023, according to CMIE data. The female unemployment rate rose sharply to 18.5%, compared to 15.1% last year. Rural areas were hit harder, with unemployment rising to 9.3% from 6.3% in May. Urban unemployment saw a smaller increase, reaching 8.9% in June. The Labour Participation Rate (LPR) also improved slightly to 41.4% in June from 40.8% in May, indicating more people are seeking employment.