A staggering 3.69 lakh educated youth in Jammu Kashmir are currently unemployed, according to a report released by the Jammu & Kashmir Government.
This data, revealed in response to a query raised by MLA Mian Meher Ali, paints a sobering picture of the employment challenges facing the region.
Among the unemployed youth, the majority are those with educational qualifications up to 10+2, numbering 2,24,495, followed by 66,628 graduates and 47,114 postgraduates.
Together, these groups account for over one-third of the total registered unemployed youth. The report also highlights 15,396 degree holders, 9,884 diploma holders, 2,883 ITI-trained youth, 1,589 draftsmen, and 1,021 skilled youth with other qualifications.
The situation is exacerbated by a fierce competition for jobs. In recent Army recruitment rallies held across the region, over tens and thousands of youth participated, highlighting the growing desperation for employment.
The highest turnout occurred in November 2024 in Poonch, where more than 26,000 candidates competed for just 352 vacancies, including 307 Soldier General Duty positions and 45 clerks and tradesmen slots. Another 12,000 youth attended the recruitment rally in Doda district, further underscoring the intense competition for limited job opportunities.
“This situation is frustrating,” said Adil Ahmed, a graduate from Srinagar. “We worked hard to earn our degrees, yet there are no job opportunities that match our qualifications. There’s a clear disconnect between what we’ve learned and what the market actually needs.”
Experts have voiced concern over the high number of educated youth, especially graduates and postgraduates, unable to find suitable employment. “This data shows a growing mismatch between academic qualifications and the demands of the job market,” said Syed Nadeem, a research scholar.
With the unemployment crisis deepening, economists and civil society groups are calling for a renewed focus on vocational training, entrepreneurship, and private sector engagement to prevent further economic distress and potential social unrest.
It is not clear whether the official figure of 3.69 lakh unemployed youth includes those engaged in informal or unregistered work. Many in Jammu Kashmir, despite being jobless in official records, may be involved in irregular jobs such as working in family-run shops, farming, daily wage labor, or gig-based work like delivery services.
This ambiguity highlights the complexity of defining unemployment in regions with a large informal economy.
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
- News Deskhttps://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/author/kashmiriyat/
