New Delhi: The National Federation of Youth Movement (NFYM) has sounded an alarm over India’s worsening youth unemployment, calling it a crisis that threatens both the economy and social stability. At a press conference in the capital, NFYM released its latest report titled “Beyond Numbers: Unveiling India’s Youth Unemployment Crisis.”
According to the findings, the national unemployment rate among youth aged 15 to 29 stands at 14.6 percent for April to June 2025, well above the overall unemployment rate. Urban youth face the toughest challenge at 17.9 percent, while rural areas report 13.1 percent. Some regions reflect extreme distress, with Lakshadweep at 36.2 percent, Himachal Pradesh at 29.6 percent, and Kerala at 25.7 percent.
Women remain the hardest hit. The report noted that in Kerala, nearly half of young women are without jobs. Nationwide, unemployment among educated youth is at 28.4 percent, highlighting a sharp mismatch between qualifications and available opportunities. NFYM leaders warned that rising joblessness is eroding confidence in education as a pathway to secure livelihoods.
The report also pointed to serious mental health consequences. Official data shows more than 7,000 suicides linked to joblessness in 2022, most of them involving young people under 35. “This is not only an economic issue but also a human tragedy,” said NFYM Chairman Masihuzzaman Ansari.
NFYM has urged immediate government action. Its recommendations include industry-linked training with mandatory internships, targeted programs for women’s employment, formalization of the informal workforce, state-level job creation schemes, and the inclusion of mental health support in employment programs.
Ansari criticized political parties for ignoring the issue. He said unemployment is highest in states ruled by different parties, which shows that the crisis cuts across political lines. “Every government has failed the youth,” he declared.
NFYM announced that it will soon submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Labour and Employment and press state governments to make employment a top priority. The organization called on political parties to place jobs at the center of their agendas as several states move toward elections.
