The NSSO also has data on the unemployment rate (number of unemployed per 1000 persons) as well as proportion of those employed per 1000.

Data shows that unemployment rate (among male and female) in rural India increased among all religions between 1999-00 and 2004-05 , the increase being the highest among Christians (from 39 to 44 per 1000). In urban India, there has been a fall in the unemployment rate of Muslims (50 to 41 per 1000) but there has been an increase in the unemployment rate of Christians (73 to 86 per 1000).

The proportion of persons employed in urban India (male and female, per 1000) was highest among Christians (375) followed by Hindus at 373 and Sikhs at 365. For Muslims, the figure was 331.