Telangana’s urban young women face 28.6% unemployment: NITI report | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: The NITI Aayog skilling report, which pointed out that 8.7 crore Indians aged 15 to 29 were outside education, employment or training, holds significance for Telangana. The state’s youth unemployment data shows that 18.1% of those in the same age group were unemployed, with the rate rising to 28.6% among young urban women.The report said the 8.7 crore estimate was based on 2021 data and covered young people who were not studying, working or undergoing training. It highlighted the need for affordable skilling opportunities, self-employment pathways and training aligned with local demand and emerging sectors.Telangana’s unemployment data shows considerable variation by location and gender. Among youth aged 15 to 29, unemployment stood at 18.3% in rural areas and 22% in urban areas.The gender gap was particularly sharp in urban areas. While 19.2% of young urban men were unemployed, the rate among young urban women was 28.6%. In rural areas, unemployment stood at 19.4% among young men and 16% among young women.The figures point to a youth employment challenge that extends beyond the availability of jobs. The report stressed the need to strengthen the transition from education and training to employment, with greater industry participation and wider apprenticeship opportunities.The report also flagged a mismatch between qualifications and jobs, saying only 8.25% of graduates were employed in roles aligned with their qualifications. It said limited exposure to practical learning and industry-aligned training continued to affect employability.For Telangana, the sharp disparity among young urban women is particularly significant. Their unemployment rate was nearly 10 percentage points higher than that of young urban men, raising questions about whether skilling opportunities are translating into jobs for women and whether other barriers are keeping them out of the workforce.NITI Aayog has proposed stronger industry participation, wider apprenticeship opportunities and outcome-linked financing for skilling, besides greater integration of skills into school education.While the 8.7 crore NEET estimate and Telangana’s unemployment figures measure different aspects of the youth employment problem, together they underline the need to ensure that young people move from education and training into meaningful employment.
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