Vizag Leads Andhra Pradesh in Youth Power; State Grapples with Graduate Job Crisis

Visakhapatnam, popularly known as Vizag, has emerged as Andhra Pradesh's strongest district for youth opportunity, securing the highest YouthPOWER score of 55 in the recently released 'Andhra Pradesh State Handbook of Youth Opportunity'. This new report, unveiled at GITAM University, highlights Vizag significant lead over the state's average score of 45.3, showcasing robust employment and educational metrics that position it as a regional bright spot amid broader state-level challenges. While Vizag boasts an impressive 60% of workers in regular salaried jobs—nearly three times the state's typical district average of 21%—the broader picture for Andhra Pradesh's youth remains concerning. The state faces a high youth unemployment rate of 16.2%, with a staggering 41% of graduates struggling to find work, a figure that jumps to 49% for young women graduates. Additionally, almost 28.4% of Andhra Pradesh's young population falls under the NEET category, meaning they are 'Not in Employment, Education, or Training', raising critical questions about connecting education to job markets. In response to these challenges and aligning with the national 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision, the Andhra Pradesh government is pushing forward with ambitious initiatives. These include a new Deep-Tech Skilling Initiative launched in partnership with IBM SkillsBuild, aiming to train 10 lakh learners in areas like AI and quantum technologies over five years. Efforts are also underway through the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Samagra Shiksha to boost skill development and improve women's participation in the workforce. The focus now shifts to how effectively these programs can translate into tangible opportunities, especially for graduates, ensuring the state's demographic dividend doesn't become a burden.