Kashmir Life. Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab reported the highest unemployment rates in July-September 2026, surpassing the 5.1% national average, with youth joblessness exceeding 20%. Unemployment remained highest in Uttarakhand (8.9 per cent), followed by Andhra Pradesh (8.2 per cent) and Kerala (8.0 per cent), driven largely by elevated urban and female unemployment rates..