In what has raised alarm bells for the government and public in general, a new government report has indicated rising joblessness among young people in Jammu and Kashmir, where youth unemployment has soared to 17.4 per cent. This figure is far above the national average of 10.2 per cent. The data comes at a time when debate over job reservation and employment policy is intensifying across the Union Territory.
Escalating youth unemployment rate in the UT is being seen as a critical issue, raising serious concern not just about the issue of youth being without jobs, but also about J&K's economic future. A sharp decline in youth participation in the workforce is being seen as a big hindrance in the progress in that direction.
Currently, the youth unemployment rate in J&K stands at staggering 17.4% , quite above the national average of 10.2%.
The report reveals that overall unemployment in J&K stands at 6.7 per cent, nearly double the national average of 3.5 per cent, as recorded in the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24.
“The youth unemployment rate is even more concerning at 17.4 per cent,” the report states, adding that urban female unemployment is at a staggering 28.6 per cent, reflecting persistent gendered barriers to labour market entry. The report calls for “urgent inclusive economic interventions” to reverse the trend.
While the issue of job scarcity and lack of opportunities for the youth have been flagged by several reputed organisations , the government of UT has not come out with any solid measures. However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah , taking cognizance of the figures has made mention of Mission Yuva which has rekindled some hopes.
Mission YUVA, the flagship employment-generation initiative, aims to create 1.37 lakh enterprises and generate 4.25 lakh jobs over the next five years. The government hopes the mission will harness J&K’s entrepreneurial potential, particularly in the service sector, where self-employment trends are already showing promise.
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