One in five youth is jobless in Telangana, says Centre’s latest report

Nearly one in five young people in Telangana are unemployed, with the State’s 20.1% youth jobless rate surpassing the national average of 14.6%. Urban women face the highest unemployment at 28.6%, raising concerns about gender disparity and policy failure.

Hyderabad: Despite all the tall claims by the Congress government, it appears that Telangana is grappling with a severe youth unemployment crisis, with one in five young people in the State currently jobless. Youth unemployment in the State has spiked to 20.1 per cent, which is well above the national average of 14.6 per cent. While the State’s overall unemployment rate stands at 6.9 per cent, the national average is 5.4 per cent.

Alarming figures from the latest employment survey by the Centre, covering the April–June 2025 quarter, revealed deep gender and regional disparities. Among young women in urban Telangana, unemployment has soared to 28.6 per cent, compared to 19.2 per cent for their male counterparts. Rural areas reflect a similar trend, though at a slightly lower level, with female unemployment at 16 per cent against 19.4 per cent for men. Overall, the youth jobless rate stands at 18.3 per cent in rural areas and 22 per cent in urban pockets.

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For the State’s working-age population (15 years and above), the unemployment rate is lower at 6.9 per cent, still higher than the national figure of 5.4 per cent. Female unemployment remains a concern, particularly in urban areas, where nearly 12 per cent of women remain out of work compared to 7 per cent of men.

Labour force participation rates (LFPR) reveal another structural challenge where just 27.2 per cent of women aged 15–29 are part of the workforce, compared to 60.4 per cent of men. For all working-age women in the State, the LFPR is 41.6 per cent, against 76.1 per cent for men, underscoring the significant gender gap in access to employment opportunities.

Sector-wise distribution indicated that Telangana’s economy remains diversified with 32.9 per cent of the workforce employed in agriculture, 29.1 per cent in manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying, while 38 per cent work in services. However, experts cautioned that growth in the tertiary sector has not translated into enough jobs for young graduates, particularly in urban areas.

With nearly 20 out of every 100 young people in Telangana unable to find work, the crisis is likely to hamper the State’s growth. Telangana, once seen as a hub for investments and industrial growth, is now facing mounting questions over the State government’s ability to generate jobs for its expanding young population. The Centre’s latest PLFR report emphasised the pressing need for targeted job creation, skill development and women-centric employment policies in Telangana. Without urgent intervention, analysts warned that the youth bulge may quickly transform into a youth crisis, leading to both economic and social strain.