New Delhi, June 16 -- India's unemployment rate rose to 5.6% in May from 5.1% in April, driven largely by a shift in rural employment away from agriculture, according to data released Monday by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Unemployment among women was marginally higher at 5.8%, compared to 5.6% for men during the month.

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The share of rural workers aged 15 and above employed in the primary sector, largely agriculture, fell to 43.5% in May from 45.9% in April. This shift coincided with the end of the Rabi harvest season, which typically brings a seasonal dip in farm-related employment.

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