Unemployment: Unemployment remains one of the biggest challenges facing economies around the world. While some countries are struggling with overall unemployment, some countries are facing another serious problem. This problem is of high unemployment among the youth. Recent global data shows that countries like Eswatini and Southern Africa are recording the world’s highest unemployment rates. On the other hand, India is not among the countries where overall unemployment is highest but the situation in terms of employment of youth is much more worrying.

Countries with highest unemployment rates

According to the report of International Labor Organization and Institute for Human Development, youth constitute a large part of India’s unemployed population. Eswatini tops the list in global unemployment figures for 2025-26. The unemployment rate here is around 34.2%. After this comes South Africa. Unemployment here is around 32.4%.

Djibouti is also among those countries facing serious employment challenges. A large part of the workforce here is struggling to get a job. These countries continue to face structural economic problems that limit employment opportunities and economic growth.

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What is the situation in India?

India’s overall unemployment rate is lower than the global average. However, experts say that the real concern is about unemployment among the youth rather than the overall figures at the national level. India’s large youth population creates both an opportunity and a challenge. While millions of youth join the workforce every year, the economy will have to create good quality jobs to absorb them.

Youth form a large part of India’s unemployed population.

India Employment Report shows that about 83 percent of all unemployed people in the country fall in the youth category. These are generally defined as individuals aged 15 to 29 years. In simple words, out of every 100 unemployed persons in India, approximately 83 are youth.

One of the most worrying trends is the increasing share of educated youth among the unemployed. Statistics show that the proportion of educated unemployed youth has increased from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7%. These include those who have completed at least class 10th. The situation of graduate youth is even more difficult. According to reports, about 67% of unemployed people aged 20 to 29 years are graduates.

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