New Delhi . Out of 6.3 crore graduates aged 20 to 29 years in the country (India), 1.1 crore are unemployed (Graduate Unemployment). It is a matter of concern that only seven percent of graduates get a permanent salaried job within a year of registering as unemployed. This problem has further increased due to the increasing number of graduates in recent years.

According to the report ‘State of Work in India-2026’ released by Azim Premji University, there has been a significant increase in the access to higher education of youth (15-29 years) in the country. However, challenges to employment still persist. The unemployment rate among graduates remains high. The unemployment rate among graduates aged 15 to 25 is around 40 per cent and among graduates aged 25 to 29 is 20 per cent. The report said that graduate youth have an income advantage and their starting earnings are almost double that of non-graduates. Despite this, the pace of wage growth for young male graduates has slowed since 2011. Professor Rosa Abraham, lead author of the report, said, this study reflects the journey of youth from education to employment and the changes in it.

Decline in enrollment rate of men

In the last four decades, the enrollment rate in higher education has reached 28 percent, in which the participation of women has increased especially. However, men’s enrollment has declined. It has declined from 38 percent in 2017 to 34 percent by the end of 2024. The main reason behind this is that men start looking for opportunities to earn to meet the needs of the family. The scope of higher educational institutions has also increased. The number of colleges per lakh youth increased from 29 in 2010 to 45 in 2021, in which private institutions have played a big role.

Increased participation of poor families in higher education

According to the report, participation of poor families in higher education has increased, which has increased from eight percent in 2007 to 15 percent in 2017. But, economic constraints still remain. The participation of students from relatively affluent class is higher in expensive professional courses like engineering and medical. Youth are increasingly moving away from agriculture towards service and manufacturing sectors. The report also states that since 2010, the number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) has increased by nearly 300 percent. Additionally, concerns have also emerged regarding quality in private institutions.