Youth unemployment in Himachal hits 29.6%: What's the crisis
Himachal Pradesh's youth unemployment has hit 29.6% for ages 15-29—over twice the national average—according to fresh government data from April-June 2025.
Both rural (29.1%) and urban (31.3%) rates are high.
The crisis is especially tough in disaster-hit districts like Kangra and Mandi.
Finding a job isn't just hard, it's a major challenge
Even though more young people in Himachal are actively looking for work (the state has India's highest labor force participation rate at 70.3%), very few jobs are actually available—over 675,000 youths registered for work last year, but fewer than 12,000 vacancies were posted.
This gap is fueling frustration and political debate, especially as many feel promises made before the last election haven't been kept.
For young people here, finding a job isn't just hard—it's becoming a major challenge that affects daily life and future plans.