Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 15: Women in Karnataka’s rural areas are better employed than their urban counterparts and men in both regions, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest publication, Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2024–25, released last week.
The report shows that the unemployment rate among rural women in the state stood at nine per 1,000 in 2023–24, improving from 13 in 2022–23. In contrast, rural male unemployment was considerably higher, at 25 in 2023–24 and 17 in 2022–23. Overall unemployment in Karnataka’s rural areas was recorded at 19 in 2023–24 and 15 in 2022–23, both figures remaining below the national average of 25 and 24, respectively.
The situation in urban areas, however, presents a more worrying picture. The unemployment rate among urban women stood at 44 in 2023–24, down from 51 in 2022–23, while urban male unemployment was 41 and 38 during the same periods.
The overall urban unemployment rate in Karnataka remained at 42 in both 2023–24 and 2022–23. At the national level, unemployment stood higher at 51 in 2023–24 and 54 in 2022–23.
A finance expert in the state government said, “There is unemployment in Karnataka, but compared to other states and India, it is less. The rise in rural women’s employment rate is a positive indication, but it becomes worrisome when the urban statistics are taken into account.” The expert noted that Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand have even lower rural unemployment rates.
The RBI report also highlighted Karnataka’s economic strength. The state ranked fourth in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Karnataka’s GSDP at current prices was estimated at Rs 28,83,903.23 crore in 2024–25, up from Rs 25,57,241.35 crore in 2023–24. The state ranked second in overall GSDP growth at 12.8% in 2024–25, trailing Tamil Nadu, which topped the list with 16% growth. Uttar Pradesh followed closely with 12.7%, while Maharashtra and Gujarat recorded growth rates of 11.7% and 10.2%, respectively.
A senior finance department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Karnataka’s large population needs to be factored in while assessing urban employment trends. “The reason for the decline in male employment in rural areas also needs to be studied,” the official added.
FKCCI chairperson Uma Reddy said the increase in rural women’s employment could be attributed largely to agriculture and self-employment, adding that rural entrepreneurship training programmes appear to be making a difference. However, she cautioned that urban employment trends require urgent attention. “A stronger push is needed to bring more women into the urban workforce and reduce attrition,” she said.
Calling the overall unemployment rate in the state a cause for concern, Reddy added, “The report provides data only up to 2023–24. A detailed analysis of 2024–25 and 2025–26 is necessary for a clearer picture.” She pointed to factors such as technological interventions, reduced investments and tariff-related issues as possible contributors to the trend.