Chandigarh: According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), only one in ten young women in Haryana was either working or seeking employment between January and March 2026. In contrast, nearly one in three young women in Punjab's labour force was unemployed. The survey highlights contrasting challenges for women in these states.
Low Labour Force Participation in Haryana
The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for women aged 15-29 years in Haryana was a mere 12.7%, significantly lower than Punjab's 24.1% and Himachal Pradesh's 33.5%. The national average stood at 22.5%. Haryana also showed a stark gender gap: 56.9% of young men were in the labour force versus only 12.7% of women. In Punjab, male LFPR was 67.2% against 24.1% for women, while Himachal recorded 62.5% for men and 33.5% for women.
Rural-Urban Variations
In Haryana, urban young women had a higher LFPR (16.2%) than their rural counterparts (9.9%). Punjab saw female participation at 25.2% in rural areas and 22.7% in urban areas. Himachal Pradesh registered the highest female participation, with 34.2% in rural areas and 29.2% in urban centres.
Punjab's High Female Unemployment
Despite higher participation, Punjab recorded the highest unemployment rate among young women at 30.4%, compared to 26.8% in Himachal and 13.4% in Haryana. The national average was 17.7%. Rural Punjab faced the worst situation, with 39.5% of young women in the labour force unemployed, while urban Punjab had 16.5%.
Himachal's Employment Challenge
Himachal Pradesh, despite relatively high female participation, struggled with elevated unemployment, especially in urban areas where the rate reached 40.3%.
Worker Population Ratio
The worker population ratio (WPR) showed only 11% of young women in Haryana were employed, versus 16.8% in Punjab and 24.6% in Himachal. The national average was 18.5%. Agriculture dominated employment in Himachal (50.2%), while Punjab and Haryana had more diversified economies with larger shares in manufacturing, construction, and services.
Youth Unemployment in Himachal
Himachal Pradesh recorded the country's second-highest youth unemployment rate (15-29 years) at 26.7% during the quarter, well above the national average of 15%. Punjab had 20.2%, and Haryana reported the lowest among the three at 12.7%. Jammu and Kashmir topped the chart with 28.2%.
Employment Snapshot (15-29 Years)
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Punjab: Male 67.2%, Female 24.1%, Both 47.1%. Haryana: Male 56.9%, Female 12.7%, Both 37.1%. Himachal: Male 62.5%, Female 33.5%, Both 47.4%. India: Male 60.8%, Female 22.5%, Both 41.7%.
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Punjab: Male 55.8%, Female 16.8%, Both 37.6%. Haryana: Male 49.7%, Female 11%, Both 32.4%. Himachal: Male 45.9%, Female 24.6%, Both 34.8%. India: Male 52.3%, Female 18.5%, Both 35.5%.
Himachal women lead in employment with the highest female LFPR and employment rate among the three states, while Haryana lags behind.
