Hyderabad: Telangana recorded an unemployment rate of 5.7% among persons aged 15 and above during April-June 2026, marginally higher than the national average of 5.4%, even as the state posted one of the highest labour force participation rates (LFPR) among major states, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).The survey showed that Telangana’s unemployment rate was lower than those of Kerala (8.9%) and Andhra Pradesh (7.4%), but higher than Karnataka (2.9%) and Tamil Nadu (5.1%). At the same time, Telangana’s LFPR stood at 58.2%, meaning nearly six out of every 10 people aged 15 and above were either employed or actively seeking employment. The figure was significantly higher than the all-India average of 54.6% and was among the highest in the southern region.The state’s worker population ratio (WPR), which measures the proportion of people actually employed, stood at 54.9%, compared with 51.7% nationally, indicating that Telangana continues to perform better than the national average on workforce engagement despite a marginally higher unemployment rate.Among southern states, Telangana’s labour force participation rate was higher than that of Andhra Pradesh (57.4%) and Kerala (51.7%), and marginally higher than the rates recorded by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, both at 58%. The survey also highlighted concerns over youth employment. The unemployment rate among those aged 15-29 stood at 19.3% in Telangana, more than three times the overall unemployment rate, suggesting continuing challenges for young job seekers entering the labour market.The latest PLFS numbers point to a labour market in which a larger share of the population is participating in economic activity than in the country as a whole, even though employment generation has not kept pace sufficiently to absorb all entrants into the workforce.T women among South’s most active workforceHyderabad: A standout feature of Telangana’s labour market was the strong participation of women. The state’s female labour force participation rate stood at 40.8%, one of the highest among the southern states and substantially above the national average of 33.2%.Only a few states covered in the PLFS reported a higher female LFPR. In the South, Telangana was marginally ahead of Tamil Nadu (40.7%), Andhra Pradesh (39.6%), Karnataka (37.4%) and Kerala (35.1%). However, female unemployment remained higher than male unemployment. The unemployment rate among women in Telangana stood at 6.1%, compared with 5.5% for men. Among women aged 15-29, the unemployment rate was 24.9%, reflecting the challenges faced by young women entering the job market.Female LFPR (15+, %)Telangana: 40.8Tamil Nadu: 40.7Andhra Pradesh: 39.6Karnataka: 37.4Kerala: 35.1National Average: 33.2
