14-07-2023 : The latest data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application has revealed that over eight lakh youth in Jammu and Kashmir are unemployed, with approximately two lakh of them being educated individuals. The figures were disclosed by the Public Information Officer (PIO) at the Directorate of Employment in response to the RTI application.
According to the data, as of May 31, 2023, a total of 1,99,872 educated youth were registered as unemployed at the Directorate of Employment. This staggering number highlights the pressing issue of unemployment among the youth in the region.
Inquiring about the employment schemes available in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the schemes implemented post the abrogation of Article 370, the PIO explained that until 2015-16, the department had been implementing the J&K Self Employment Scheme (JKSES) for the educated unemployed youth of the state. However, during the budget announcements of 2015-16, the scheme was subsumed with the Seed Capital Scheme of the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Institute (JKEDI).
The PIO further informed that the department has submitted guidelines for self-employment schemes, such as the Seed Capital Fund Scheme and the Youth Start-up Loan, for implementation through the Directorate of Employment. Previously, these schemes were implemented by JKEDI. Additionally, a proposal for the revival of the J&K Overseas Corporation is also under examination with the Administrative Department.
Regarding the survey conducted by the Directorate of Employment in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to assess the extent of unemployment and find a permanent solution, the PIO stated that the department had conducted an unemployment survey in coordination with the District Administration in all districts, except Bandipora, during March, April, and May 2022. The survey revealed that as of May 31, 2022, there were 6,63,511 unemployed youth in the UT. However, it should be noted that around 10-15% of these unemployed youth are self-employed, engaged in agriculture-related businesses, or have small shops in their respective villages.
The PIO clarified that the actual number of unemployed youth at the field level would be 5,63,984. With a total population of 130 lakh in the UT, the workforce is estimated to be 80 lakh, resulting in an unemployment rate of 7.04%.
Furthermore, during 2022-23, the Directorate of Employment conducted an employment and unemployment survey, considering one village in every tehsil as a First Stage Unit (FSU). The survey covered 206 tehsils based on the 2011 census data, revealing an unemployment rate of approximately 8.31%.