An Employment Exchange or Model Career Centre that registers jobseekers, runs job fairs and offers free counselling.
Youth unemployment in Barnala stands at 16.8%, behind the typical district. The youth labour force participation rate is 48.1%, close to the typical district. The Model Career Centre exists to place young jobseekers against this gap.
70% of registered enterprises are in services while 30% are in manufacturing. Only 3% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 85% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Barnala, which ranks 11 of 23 in Punjab for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 52.9 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on self-employed workers at 44.5%, while it lags on average daily wage for regular work at ₹570.7. On informal workers with any social-security cover at 0%, it sits close to the national mark.