Guwahati: More than a 25% of young people aged 15 to 29 are neither employed nor pursuing education or vocational training in nearly 250 districts across India, according to the first district-level Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2025.

The findings, released by the statistics ministry on September 18, showed that at least 25% of the youth population falls under the NEET category (not in employment, education or training)

According to The Times of India, nearly two-thirds of the districts in states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal recorded NEET rates of 25% or more among young people.

A similar pattern was reported in around half of the districts in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Telangana, where at least one-fourth of the 15-29 age group was classified as NEET.

The survey covered around 600 districts across major states and Union Territories. In some cases, adjoining districts were combined and treated as a single survey unit.

However, the NEET rate was below 10% in around 25 districts. These included Kabirdham, Rajnandgaon and Uttar Bastar Kanker in Chhattisgarh; Chamba in Himachal Pradesh; Ernakulam in Kerala; and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh. Nabarangpur in Odisha recorded the lowest rate, at 4.1%, according to the report.

The NEET category includes young people who are neither enrolled in an educational institution nor participating in the workforce. The group can include individuals engaged in unpaid domestic or care work, particularly women, as well as those who have stopped seeking employment because they could not find suitable opportunities. It may also include people preparing for competitive examinations or those engaged in leisure activities.

The survey also highlighted a significant gender disparity. Nearly three-fourths of the districts covered recorded NEET rates above 25% among young women, pointing to the role of unpaid household responsibilities and social expectations in keeping women outside formal education, employment and training.

The latest findings come against the backdrop of earlier estimates on young people outside education and employment. A NITI Aayog report titled Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047, based on the 78th round of the National Sample Survey conducted in 2021, estimated that around 8.7 crore Indians aged 15 to 29 were not studying, working or receiving training. The Union government subsequently clarified that the group should not simply be categorised as unemployed.

Meanwhile, the State of Working India 2026 report by Azim Premji University, released in March 2026, highlighted continuing challenges in youth employment. It found that nearly 40% of people aged 15 to 25 were unemployed and noted that only around 7% of graduates secured permanent salaried employment within a year of graduation.