India’s unemployment rate climbed to 8.3% in December, the highest in 2022, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

The 8.3% rate was higher than the 8.0% unemployment rate seen in November, while in September it was the lowest at 6.43%. In August, the rate stood at 8.28%, the second highest level during the year.

Meanwhile the urban unemployment rate stood at 10% during the last month of 2022, rural joblessness stood at 7.5% during December.

Among Indian states, unemployment continued to be the highest in Haryana at 37.4% in December, followed by Rajasthan at 28.5%, Delhi 20.8%, Bihar 19.1% and Jharkhand 18%.

Ciel HR Services managing director and CEO Aditya Narayan Mishra said there were no significant new employment opportunities in December.

"Consumer goods, automotives and financial services have had a good run around the festive season of September-December,” Mishra said. “To cater to this upswing, new jobs were created in August-September. Construction, engineering and manufacturing have not grown considering the inflationary pressures.”

Mishra said, IT, outsourcing, tech-driven startups and services had remained low on activities in December thus impacting employment negatively.

"Travel, hospitality and tourism sectors have been on a high in December, however, they have not increased the employment significantly because they are optimising their resources now and backfilling the vacant spots. Pharma, healthcare and life sciences have remained stable in their employment," Mishra added.