J&K Unemployment at 6.7%, Nearly Double National Average: Govt Tells Assembly
Baseline survey flags major employment gap as administration focuses on entrepreneurship driven job creation across the Union Territory.
JAMMU, Feb 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Union Territory’s unemployment rate stands at 6.7 per cent, notably higher than the national average of 3.5 per cent.
The disclosure came in a written response to a starred question from MLA Mubarak Gul. Citing the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the government noted that joblessness among individuals aged 15 years and above has fluctuated in recent years but has consistently remained above the countrywide figure.
A baseline assessment conducted by the Employment Department in coordination with the UT Administration under Mission YUVA identified nearly 4.73 lakh people in the 18–60 age bracket. Of these, about 46.8 per cent said they were not employed but willing to work, underlining the scale of the employment challenge, particularly among younger populations.
Addressing concerns over corrective measures, the administration stated that expanding employment opportunities especially for youth remains a central priority. The strategy emphasises building durable livelihoods by motivating young people to become entrepreneurs instead of relying solely on traditional job avenues.
Mission YUVA has emerged as a key initiative in this direction, designed to foster enterprise development across the region. Officials reported receiving roughly 70,000 registrations on the platform, signalling increasing interest in self-employment.
Detailed Project Reports have been prepared for around 52,875 applicants through Small Business Development Units. Banks have reviewed nearly 47,816 proposals so far, approving 16,141 cases. Approximately 9,500 applications were declined due to eligibility and credit constraints, while others are progressing through different stages of evaluation.
Authorities added that approved candidates are receiving structured support, including mentoring and skill training. More than 7,300 aspiring entrepreneurs have already completed training programmes, with several others currently undergoing capacity-building sessions.
The Labour and Employment Department also presented annual data on beneficiaries under multiple self-employment schemes—such as Mumkin, Tejaswini, the Spurring Entrepreneurship Scheme, and the Women Entrepreneurship Programme implemented over the past two financial years.
Reaffirming its commitment, the government said a comprehensive employment blueprint titled “Mission YUVA: From Aspiration to Enterprise – Transforming Jammu & Kashmir’s Employment Landscape” has been crafted to curb joblessness and enhance youth participation in economic activities.
The reply, tabled by the Minister in charge of the Labour and Employment Department, stressed that the mission-based framework is intended to promote inclusive growth while ensuring sustainable employment generation throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
