According to a research study conducted by Gallup Pakistan and Policy Research, Innovation, Development and Education (PRIDE), the youth unemployment rate in Sindh, Pakistan, varies across different divisions. The highest rate is observed in Karachi at 11.2 percent, while the lowest is in Larkana at 3.4 percent.
Based on the Labour Force Survey for 2020-21, the overall youth unemployment rate in Sindh is 3.9 percent. However, the rate is significantly higher among female youth at 6.6 percent compared to their male counterparts at 3.3 percent. Additionally, urban residents experience a higher unemployment rate of 5.9 percent compared to their rural counterparts at 2.1 percent.
A recent press release highlighted that 21.9 percent of unemployed young female graduates in Sindh hold a university degree, while the ratio is 20.3 percent for young men. The percentage rises to 23.6 percent for urban youth in Sindh.
The distribution of unemployed youth according to educational attainment reveals that a significant portion of unemployed youth, 22.2 percent, have completed secondary school (matric) but not higher secondary school (intermediate). On the other hand, the lowest rate of unemployment is observed among those with MPhil/PhD degrees (0.1 percent) and those with less than one year of education (0.4 percent).
In terms of population distribution, Karachi Division has the largest population in Sindh with 16.7 million people, while Mirpur Khas Division has the smallest population with 4.5 million people. Hyderabad Division has the highest rural population at 7.1 million, while Karachi Division has the highest urban population at 15.5 million.
A demographic analysis reveals that Sindh is home to 13.2 million young individuals between the ages of 15 and 29.
Bilal Gilani, the executive director of Gallup Pakistan, expressed concern over the lack of employment opportunities for the youth, stating that there is a need to provide avenues for self-employment and question whether urging youth to pursue university education or skill-based technical programs in this environment is appropriate.
Around 41 percent of unemployed youth in Sindh have completed matric and intermediate levels of education, with varying ratios across different divisions of the province.
The percentages are approximately 33 percent for Hyderabad Division, 47 percent for Karachi Division, 42 percent for Larkana Division, 34 percent for Mirpur Khas Division, 46 percent for Sukkur Division, and 27 percent for Shaheed Benazirabad Division.