According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), in India, educated youth face higher unemployment rates compared to those without formal education. The jobless rate for graduates stands at 29.1%, significantly higher than the 3.4% for illiterate individuals. Youth with secondary education or higher experience a 6-fold increase in unemployment, at 18.4%. This trend reflects a mismatch between labor force skills and available jobs, echoing concerns raised by economists like Raghuram Rajan. Despite a decrease in overall youth unemployment since 2000, educated youth unemployment has risen, particularly impacting women and urban areas. India’s low female labor force participation remains a significant challenge, although it saw improvement during the pandemic due to increased subsistence employment.