New Delhi: India’s youth continued to struggle with high unemployment levels during the final months of the 2025-26 financial year, with the situation worsening between January and March 2026, according to the latest employment data.
The unemployment rate among individuals aged 15-29 remained elevated throughout the year and climbed sharply in the closing months of the survey period. It stood at 13.8 per cent in April 2025 before rising steadily to 15.3 per cent in June 2025, marking the highest level recorded during the year.
Although unemployment moderated slightly in the following months, the trend reversed again towards the end of 2025. The rate rose from 14.4 per cent in December 2025 to 14.7 per cent in January 2026, 14.8 per cent in February, and 15.2 per cent in March 2026, indicating growing stress in the youth employment market.
Young Women Continue To Face Greater Employment Challenges
The data showed that unemployment continued to affect young women far more than men.
Among males aged 15-29, unemployment stood at 13.6 per cent in April 2025 and remained relatively stable for most of the year. However, male unemployment also increased in the final quarter, climbing from 13.7 per cent in December 2025 to 14.3 per cent in March 2026.
For young women, the situation remained considerably more severe. Female unemployment stayed above 16 per cent for most of the year and crossed the 17 per cent mark several times.
The unemployment rate among young women stood at 16.3 per cent in December 2025 before jumping to 17.8 per cent in January 2026. It remained high at 17.6 per cent in February and 17.7 per cent in March 2026.
The persistent gap between male and female unemployment rates highlighted the continued difficulty women face in securing employment opportunities compared to men in the same age group.
Workforce Participation Among Women Remained Low
The employment challenge becomes even more significant when viewed alongside labour force participation data.
Young women participated in the workforce at far lower levels than men throughout the year. Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained between 20 per cent and 23 per cent during the entire period, while male LFPR stayed above 60 per cent.
In June 2025, female LFPR dropped to 20.6 per cent, one of the lowest levels recorded during the year. Although participation improved slightly afterwards, it continued to remain weak overall.
During the final quarter, female LFPR stood at 22.5 per cent in December 2025, rose marginally to 23.2 per cent in January 2026, and then slipped again to 22.3 per cent in March 2026.
This indicated that despite fewer women actively participating in the labour market, unemployment among those seeking jobs continued to rise.
Male workforce participation, meanwhile, remained comparatively stable. Male LFPR stood at 61.5 per cent in December 2025 and eased slightly to 60.9 per cent by March 2026. However, unemployment among young men also increased during the same period.
The combined trend of rising unemployment and weak labour force participation points to continued pressure in India’s youth job market, especially among young women.