Punjab Newsline | Panchkula

Haryana has recorded a significant improvement on the employment front over the past five years, with the state witnessing a sharp decline in both overall and youth unemployment, according to data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.

The state’s overall unemployment rate fell from 11.5% in October-December 2021 to 4.8% in April-June 2026, marking a decline of 6.7 percentage points. The latest rate is less than half of the level recorded in late 2021.

Among people aged 15 years and above, the unemployment rate declined from 11.3% in October-December 2021 to 4.8% in April-June 2026.

The improvement was particularly notable among young people. The unemployment rate for those aged 15-29 years fell from 22.9% in October-December 2021 to 15.6% in April-June 2025 and further to 11.8% in April-June 2026. This represents an overall decline of 11.1 percentage points over the period.

State also recorded a year-on-year improvement. Between April-June 2025 and April-June 2026, Haryana’s overall unemployment rate dropped from 5.7% to 4.8%, while unemployment among people aged 15 years and above also declined from 5.7% to 4.8%.

The decline was steeper among young people, with the unemployment rate for the 15-29 age group falling by 3.8 percentage points, from 15.6% to 11.8% during the same period.

Haryana Unemployment Trends

Period Age 15-29 Age 15+ Overall Unemployment

October-December 2021 22.9% 11.3% 11.5%

April-June 2025 15.6% 5.7% 5.7%

April-June 2026 11.8% 4.8% 4.8%

Punjab, Himachal Pradesh Record Higher Unemployment

Haryana’s neighbouring states Punjab and Himachal Pradesh recorded higher unemployment rates during April-June 2026.

In Himachal Pradesh, the unemployment rate among people aged 15-29 stood at 24.1%, more than twice Haryana’s 11.8%. The state’s overall unemployment rate was 6.3%.

Punjab recorded a youth unemployment rate of 22.3%, while its overall unemployment rate stood at 8.5%.

Experts Say Quality of Jobs Is the Next Challenge

Professor Ranjan Aneja of the Department of Economics at Haryana Central University said the PLFS data showed a meaningful improvement in Haryana’s employment situation. According to the 2025 annual PLFS report, the unemployment rate among people aged 15 years and above in Haryana stood at 4.5%.

He said the decline is significant because Haryana has historically been associated with relatively high unemployment. However, the fall in unemployment should not be viewed as the final solution to the state’s employment challenge.