A new state-wide survey has thrown light on the mounting economic challenges facing Nagaland, revealing high unemployment, weak technical skills, and deep income disparities. The findings, officials say, call for urgent reforms in education, job creation, and balanced regional development. The 2025 Survey on Employment, Unemployment, Skill and Migration, released on Friday by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, shows the state’s labour force participation rate at 56 per cent, with unemployment pegged at 16.07 per cent — far above the national average. The report highlights sharp contrasts across districts. Mon district recorded the highest employment rate at 91.08 per cent, while Phek posted unemployment figures as high as 25 per cent. Wokha had the most active workforce, with a participation rate of 75 per cent, but Tuensang lagged significantly with only 41 per cent.
These variations, experts say, point to uneven development and limited employment avenues in certain areas, leaving large sections of youth without opportunities. Perhaps most alarming is the state’s lack of technical education. The survey found that 92 per cent of Nagaland’s population does not possess technical training, restricting access to modern jobs. While information technology has emerged as the most common vocational skill, the demand for such jobs remains low, resulting in a mismatch between skills and employment. Only a quarter of respondents were registered with the employment department, indicating weak linkages between job seekers and government support systems.
Income gaps across Nagaland are stark. Household spending ranges from as little as ₹1,133 to as high as ₹3.6 lakh a month. Dimapur, the commercial hub, recorded the highest average monthly expenditure at ₹22,716, while Longleng reported the lowest at ₹13,849. The overall state average stood at ₹16,522.
