Despite 4,893 Placements, Unemployment Crisis Persists with 4.73 Lakh Job Seekers
Srinagar, Mar 11 (TKG): The Jammu and Kashmir government claims to have provided employment opportunities to 4,893 skilled and unskilled youth over the past two years through job fairs across the Union Territory. However, a deeper look into the data raises critical questions—does this number reflect real employment growth, or is it a drop in the ocean compared to the mounting job crisis in J&K?
Job Fairs: Hype or Hope?
According to official figures accessed by Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 246 job fairs were organized in two years, attracting 2,760 companies and 1,36,200 job seekers. Out of these, 39,782 candidates were shortlisted for second-round counseling, and 4,893 secured immediate employment—a mere 3.5% of total job seekers.
A year-wise breakdown reveals:
- 2022-23: 84 job fairs, 878 companies, 45,447 job seekers → 1,761 placed, 2,978 sent for skill training.
- 2023-24: 106 job fairs, 1,412 companies, 72,175 job seekers → 1,902 placed, 2,807 sent for skill training.
- 2024-25 (till Feb 2025): 56 job fairs, 470 companies, 18,578 job seekers → 1,230 placed, 855 sent for skill training.
While these numbers indicate efforts, they also reveal the staggering gap between job seekers and actual employment.
The Harsh Reality: 4.73 Lakh Willing to Work, but Jobless
A Baseline Survey conducted by the government paints a grim picture—4.73 lakh individuals aged 18-60 are “not working but willing to work.” The survey, which covered 54.8 lakh individuals, found that:
- 2,24,495 candidates hold 10+2 qualifications.
- 66,628 are graduates, 47,114 are postgraduates, and 15,396 hold professional degrees.
- Thousands of diploma holders, ITI-trained individuals, and skilled workers remain jobless.
The voluntary nature of the Employment Portal means that the actual number of unemployed youth could be much higher.
Mission YUVA: A Solution or a Band-Aid?
The government emphasizes initiatives like Mumkin, Tejaswini, and Spurring Entrepreneurship under Mission Youth, aiming to promote self-employment. However, without a robust private sector, sustainable employment remains a challenge.
While the administration envisions a policy shift towards private-sector job creation, concrete steps and industry investments remain largely absent. The 3,70,811 unemployed youth registered on the Employment Portal reflect the desperate search for opportunities.
The Way Forward: Real Jobs, Not Just Statistics
Job fairs and skill-training programs are essential, but they are not a substitute for permanent employment solutions. The J&K government must focus on attracting industries, boosting entrepreneurship, and ensuring that job fairs translate into long-term employment, not just temporary placements.
For now, while 4,893 placements may look promising on paper, the reality for lakhs of unemployed youth remains uncertain.
