Odisha’s unemployment rate stands at 3.9%, surpassing the national average of 3.2%, as reported by Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain in the Assembly on Friday.

Swain revealed in response to a query from BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo that Odisha ranks 21st among all states and Union Territories in unemployment, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2022-23 by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).

The survey highlights a stark disparity between rural and urban employment conditions. In rural areas, the unemployment rate is 3.6%, whereas urban areas face a significantly higher rate of 6.2%. This urban-rural divide underscores growing employment challenges within the state’s cities and towns.

The minister’s report reflects ongoing concerns about job creation and economic opportunities in Odisha, with policymakers and stakeholders expected to address the issues impacting both rural and urban employment.