March 9, Kohima: The Directorate of Economics and Statistics of Nagaland has revealed that more than half of the state's population participates in the labor force, but a significant proportion of residents still face long-term unemployment and lack technical or vocational training.
According to findings presented in the Economic Survey 2025-26 presented to the Assembly today, the state's labor force participation rate is 56 percent, while 24 percent of residents are self-employed.
The estimated employment rate is 83.92 percent, with an unemployment rate of 16.07 percent.
The report further stated that 13 percent of the workforce is employed in salaried positions in both the public and private sectors, indicating that only a small segment of the population is in regular wage employment.
In terms of work patterns, 88 percent of residents engaged in their primary activity do not undertake any secondary activity, while 12 percent supplement their primary work with additional sources of income.
The survey also highlighted the persistence of long-term unemployment in the state.
Approximately 35 percent of respondents reported being unemployed for more than three years, followed by 23 percent who have remained unemployed for one to two years.
Another major concern identified by the survey is the lack of technical and vocational education among the population. As many as 92 percent of residents reported having no technical education, and none had undertaken courses in crafts, the report said.
Similarly, 92 percent have not received any vocational or technical training, with no respondent reporting formal on-the-job training.
Among the few who possess vocational skills, self-learning and hereditary knowledge account for one percent each, while 29 percent of those with formal vocational training fall under unspecified 'other' fields, followed by information technology at 12 percent.