The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above in urban areas declined to 6.8 per cent during January-March 2023 from 8.2 per cent a year ago, the National Sample Survey Survey (NSSO) showed. Joblessness or unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons in the labour force. Joblessness was high in January-March 2022, mainly due to the staggering impact of Covid-related restrictions in the country.