Lok Sabha Question No. 5052 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Employment among Educated Youth
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Dharmendra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5052 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD  MARCH, 2026

## EMPLOYMENT AMONG EDUCATED YOUTH

5052.     SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the unemployment rate among educated youth in the age group of 18 to 32 years in the Country is significantly higher as compared to the general population;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the details of the factors contributing to the high rate of unemployment among educated youth in the Country; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide employment to educated youth and to reduce the unemployment rate in the Country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a)  to  (d):  The  official  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is  collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which is conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18.

As per the latest Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for youth of age 15-29 years has decreased from 17.8% in 2017-18  to  10.2%  in  2023-24.  Also,  the  estimated  Worker  Population  Ratio (WPR) indicating employment on usual status for youth of age 15-29 years has increased from 31.4% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24.

Further, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for youth of age 15-29 years of different general education level during 2017-18 and 202324 is as follows:

| Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   | Unemployment Rate (in %)   |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| General Education Level    | 2017-18                    | 2023-24                    |
| Literate & Upto Primary    | 8.3                        | 2.6                        |
| Middle                     | 13.7                       | 4.2                        |
| Secondary                  | 14.4                       | 4.9                        |
| Higher Secondary           | 21.1                       | 8.8                        |
| Secondary & above          | 25.4                       | 15.4                       |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The above data shows that the Unemployment Rate for different general education level has also decreased over the years. State/UT-wise information is available in the PLFS reports which may be seen at the website of MoSPI at https://www.mospi.gov.in/publications-reports.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability is a priority of the Government. Accordingly, Government is implementing various employment  generation  schemes/  programmes  in  the  country.  The  details  of various  employment  generation  schemes/  programmes  being  implemented  by the Government may be seen at   https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes.

Government is also implementing Skill India Mission (SIM) to deliver skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an extensive network of skill development centres/ schools/ colleges /institutes etc. under various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsmen  Training  Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the country. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready, equipped with industry relevant skills.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated 'FutureSkills PRIME' a programme for Re -skilling/Up-skilling of IT Manpower for Employability in 10 new/emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence.

Government is implementing Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme named  as  the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector. The scheme with an outlay  of  Rs  99,446  Crore  aims  to  incentivize  the  creation  of  more  than  3.5 Crore jobs in the country, over a period of 2 years.

Further,  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment,  Government  of  India,  is running the National Career Service (NCS) Portal which is a one-stop solution for providing career related services including jobs from private and government  sectors,  information  on  online  &  offline  job  fairs,  job  search  & matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, skill/training programmes etc. through a digital platform [www.ncs.gov.in].

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