Youth Unemployment and Skill Mismatch in Tamil Nadu: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Youth unemployment has emerged as a critical socio-economic challenge in Tamil Nadu despite
the state’s strong economic performance and industrial growth. A major contributing factor to this
issue is the mismatch between the skills possessed by job seekers and those demanded by the
labour market. This study provides a systematic review of youth unemployment and skill mismatch
in Tamil Nadu using secondary data and existing literature. The analysis highlights trends in youth
unemployment, the role of education and training systems, and the gap between academic
qualifications and industry requirements. The study emphasizes the need for skill development
initiatives, curriculum reforms, and stronger industry–academia linkages to address the growing
employment challenges among youth.