Visakhapatnam tops YouthPOWER rankings in A.P. handbook

The “Andhra Pradesh State Handbook of Youth Opportunity” was unveiled on Monday, assessing all 26 districts across five parameters— participation, opportunity, work, education, and readiness, or skilling.

The handbook is based on nearly 180 indicators drawn from 27 government databases. Among the State’s 26 districts, Visakhapatnam recorded the highest YouthPOWER score of 55.

While Andhra Pradesh’s schools rank among the best-in the country, and large number of youth pursue higher education compared to many States, the handbook states that the State has struggled to convert these advantages into secure, well-paid employment for its youth, particularly for graduates.

According to the report, youth unemployment in the State at 16.2%, even though 46.4% of young people are part of the labour force. Nearly 28.4% are neither employed, studying, nor undergoing training. The labour force participation rate among young women, is considerably lower at 29.7%. The handbook identifies two areas for urgent attention: employment for graduates, and getting more women into the workforce.

The handbook also lists the State’s gains. Child and adult nutrition indicators improved even as they worsened in the median State over the same period. Over the past eight years, young workers have steadily moved from agriculture to services, trade, hospitality, and construction Access to banking and digital connectivity among young women has also expanded faster than in any other State surveyed. What has not kept pace, the report argues, is the quality and security of employment on offer.

Speaking at the launch, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, and president GITAM Deemed to be University, who released the handbook called for closer coordination between education, skilling, and industry.

“Universities and skilling institutions must understand the needs of local industries, while employers should know where skilled talent is being nurtured. If we can build and constantly update that information system at the district level, we can tailor our teaching and training to align with the available opportunities,” he said.

Future of India Foundation Executive Director Ruchi Gupta pointed to elected representatives as a lever for change.

The handbook noted that Visakhapatnam’s labour market leans heavily towards formal employment. Around 60% of workers hold regular salaried jobs, nearly three times the 21% recorded in a typical district. Value added per worker, a measure of how productive local enterprises, stands at roughly ₹1.79 lakh against ₹1.42 lakh typically.

The district also fares well on education. Only 15% of young women aged 15 to 21 were out of education, against 33% typically, and 41% of Class 9 students met grade-level standards in mathematics, against 35% elsewhere. Figures for a “typical district” refer to the median district value for that indicator, as defined in the handbook’s own State-level comparisons.

The unveiling event was organised by the Future of India Foundation at GITAM Deemed to be University.

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