For thousands of young people in Jammu and Kashmir, the journey from college to a secure livelihood remains far more difficult than it should be. A degree may open the first door, but without opportunities, skills and access to employers, it can quickly become a source of frustration. That is why the employment debate must now move beyond government vacancies and focus on creating many more routes into the world of work.
Government jobs will always carry importance, but no administration can provide a public-sector post to every graduate. Saying this, however, cannot become an excuse to step away from responsibility. If government cannot employ everyone directly, it must create the conditions in which businesses recruit, industries expand, start-ups survive and young people are able to build careers on their own merit. Regular campus recruitment is one practical place to begin. Universities and colleges should not consider their responsibility complete once students receive degrees. They must help them understand the job market, meet employers, acquire practical skills and prepare for interviews. A student should know well before graduation what opportunities exist and what qualifications employers are looking for. The recent mega job fair in Srinagar has shown the possibilities. Nearly 900 young people either secured employment or moved towards final selection. The numbers are encouraging, but they also make a stronger case for turning such recruitment exercises into a regular feature across Jammu and Kashmir. Every major university and college needs an active placement cell, not one that exists merely on paper. It should maintain links with employers, arrange internships, track vacancies and invite companies throughout the year. Universities should also examine how many students actually find employment after completing their courses. That is an important measure of educational success. There is also an urgent need to bring education closer to the realities of the workplace. Employers increasingly look for communication skills, digital competence, problem-solving ability, teamwork and practical experience. These cannot be developed through textbooks alone. Internships, apprenticeships and industry interaction should become a normal part of higher education. Private-sector employment also needs greater respect and stronger policy support. Technology, healthcare, tourism, banking, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and several emerging industries can generate opportunities if government creates a business environment that encourages investment and recruitment. Local companies should be supported to expand, while national and international employers should be encouraged to recruit talent from Jammu and Kashmir. Entrepreneurship offers another path, but telling young people to become entrepreneurs is easy. Building successful enterprises is much harder. Start-ups need finance, mentoring, markets and continued guidance. Venture capital and government support should reach serious ideas at the right stage, including those emerging from smaller towns and rural communities. Jammu and Kashmir has talented, educated and ambitious young people. What many need is not sympathy but access to opportunity. The gap between qualification and employment must therefore be treated as an institutional challenge.
The government, universities and industry must work as partners. Campus hiring should become routine, skill programmes should respond to actual market needs, and start-ups should receive meaningful support beyond launch ceremonies. Young people should not spend their most productive years waiting endlessly for a vacancy notification. A successful employment policy will be one that gives them several doors to knock on and the confidence that at least one can open. Moreover, the J&K Government should now institutionalise campus recruitment, create placement cells, expand industry partnerships and align skills with real market demand. It must also widen internships, support credible start-ups with finance and mentoring, and attract private investment. Youth need opportunities that are regular, measurable and accessible across Jammu and Kashmir.