Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
Jammu & Kashmir faces significant unemployment challenges viz. more than double the national average. The region’s unique socio-economic dynamics, including militancy and political instability, contribute to this issue. The youth are disproportionately affected, with many graduates and postgraduates struggling to find employment opportunities. No doubt, around 70% of Jammu and Kashmir’s population depends on agriculture and its allied sectors, which have historically provided employment to a large segment of the population. However, with rising literacy rates, most educated youth now prefer to pursue careers in the service sector rather than returning to agriculture.
As per the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey it reveals that the share of women in the service sector has consistently shrunk between 2017-2018 and 2023-2024, with most women being pushed out to the primary and secondary sectors. This may be because women are unable to move out because of cultural and social constraints. The unemployment rate in the last 7 years in Jammu and Kashmir among women in the 15-29 age group has consistently been nearly double the national average, according to Periodic Labour Force Survey data. Over the past decade, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a momentous shift. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy report, Jammu and Kashmir’s unemployment rate stands at 25%, in stark contrast to the national average of 7.6%. According to this report, among all the Union Territories and states, Haryana has the highest unemployment rate, followed closely by J&K. Year wise look at the unemployment rate showed that it was 6.1% in 2023-2024, 4.4% in 2022-2023, 5.2% in 2021-2022, 5.9% in 2019-2020 and 6.7% in 2019-2020
The unemployment rate in Jammu & Kashmir for 2023-2024 is 6.1%, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The government has reported a decline in unemployment from 6.7% in 2019-20 to 6.1% in 2023-2024, attributing this to various employment initiatives and increased economic activity. Reports and surveys reveal that the unemployment rate is significantly higher among educated youth. If we glance at the employment statistics for Jammu & Kashmir, it says over 3.70 lakh educated youth are registered as unemployed, with a breakdown of: Graduates: 66,628, Postgraduates: 47,114, other Degree Holders: 15,396 and Diploma Holders: 9,884.
It is observed that Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is heavily reliant on traditional industries like agriculture, tourism, and handicrafts, which can’t provide sufficient employment opportunities for the growing population. Poor road connectivity, inadequate electricity supply, and limited access to basic services hinder industrial growth and limit job opportunities. Disputes over land ownership and natural resources create an unstable environment, discouraging investment and industrial development. Inadequate access to credit, banking services, and capital restricts the growth of small businesses and limits job opportunities. Industries like tourism are highly seasonal, leading to fluctuations in job opportunities and leaving many people unemployed or underemployed during the off-season. It is also to be mentioned that a large number of candidates competing for a limited number of government jobs has led to frustration and disillusionment among youth. There is limited access to quality education and vocational training in rural areas restricts job opportunities for young people.
No doubt the government has initiated ‘Mission Yuva’ for self-employment and entrepreneurship to identify, support, and empower five lakh potential entrepreneurs through a structured and tech-enabled approach. In the last four years, 246 job fairs were organised by the government in which 4,893 placements were made by 2,760 companies, besides recommending 6,640 candidates for skill training.
In order to generate employment and foster economic growth, it is crucial for all sectors to grow. However, the economy of J&K has remained stagnant, with only a few sectors, such as tourism and horticulture, managing to produce some employment despite setbacks from political turmoil. Tourism has generated some employment, but it has the potential to engage more people. Addressing unemployment in Jammu & Kashmir requires a multi-faceted approach, including economic development, skill enhancement, and job creation initiatives.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
