Over 3.70 lakh unemployed youth registered, Majority with up to 10+2 education: Government Report

jj correspondent
Jammu, Mar 10: In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday revealed that more than 3.70 lakh unemployed youth are currently registered on the Employment Portal of the Union Territory, with the majority holding educational qualifications up to the 10+2 level. The report also highlighted that the government has successfully provided employment opportunities to nearly 5,000 individuals over the past two years through a series of job fairs across the region.
According to the government, 2,760 companies participated in 246 job fairs organized between 2022 and 2024, drawing a total of 1,36,200 job seekers. Of these, 39,782 candidates were shortlisted for second-round counselling, and 4,893 youth were placed on the spot. The department also provided skill training recommendations for many others, highlighting the government’s commitment to upskilling and employment generation.
Breaking down the data, the government stated that in the financial year 2022-23, 84 job fairs were conducted with 878 companies, engaging 45,447 job seekers. These efforts led to 14,014 candidates being shortlisted, with 1,761 securing on-the-spot placements and 2,978 receiving recommendations for skill training.
In 2023-24, the scope of the job fairs was expanded, with 106 events involving 1,412 companies and 72,175 job seekers. This resulted in 20,754 candidates being shortlisted, 1,902 getting placed directly, and 2,807 recommended for further skill training.
In the ongoing fiscal year (2024-25), 56 job fairs have already been held, involving 470 companies and attracting 18,578 job seekers. Among them, 5,014 were shortlisted, and 1,230 secured immediate placements. Additionally, 855 candidates were recommended for skill training.
Addressing a question from MLA Sham Lal Sharma in the ongoing Assembly session, the Minister Incharge confirmed that the government is focused on creating more job opportunities in the private sector through various initiatives and schemes aimed at boosting youth employment. He noted that registration on the Employment Portal is voluntary, enabling job seekers to avail themselves of self-employment schemes and employment opportunities offered by various departments.
As of January 2025, the government’s Employment Portal has registered 3,70,811 unemployed youth, underscoring the scale of the challenge faced by the administration in addressing the region’s unemployment crisis.
4.73 lakh willing to work, despite not being employed: Further insights from a Baseline Survey revealed that approximately 4.73 lakh individuals, aged between 18 and 60, have expressed a willingness to work despite not currently being employed. This survey covered a total of 54.8 lakh individuals across the UT, providing a clearer picture of the region’s labor market.
Educationally, the survey found that the largest group of registered unemployed youth hold qualifications up to the 10+2 level, totaling 2,24,495 individuals. In addition, 66,628 graduates, 47,114 postgraduates, and 15,396 degree holders are also among those seeking employment. Other categories of the unemployed workforce include 9,884 diploma holders, 1,589 draftsmen, and 2,883 youth with ITI training.
The department emphasized that the registration process is voluntary, suggesting that the actual number of unemployed youth could be higher than reported. As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve employment prospects, the Mission YUVA initiative has conducted a comprehensive survey of 4,73,936 individuals across the UT to assess their qualifications and job status.
Educational breakdown of surveyed individuals: The survey showed that the highest number of individuals surveyed belong to the Higher Secondary (10+2) category, with 1,26,059 individuals, followed by 98,466 graduates and 70,428 postgraduates. Additionally, 95,914 individuals completed secondary education, while 44,908 have only completed middle-level education. Notably, the survey also identified 24,594 illiterate individuals, with 828 individuals found to be literate but without formal education.
In light of these findings, the Labour and Employment department emphasized that the government is working to harness the region’s workforce effectively through initiatives like Mumkin, Tejaswini, and various entrepreneurship programs under Mission Youth. These schemes are designed to promote self-employment, empowering youth to create their own livelihoods and contribute to the region’s economic growth.