JK’s job crisis: Over 3.70 lakh job seekers registered on JK employment portal, 1.13 lakh graduates among them

Jammu, 10-03-2025: Over 3.70 lakh unemployed youth have registered on Jammu and Kashmir’s employment portal as of January 2025, reflecting the growing demand for job opportunities in the Union Territory. Among those registered, 1.13 lakh individuals hold graduate and postgraduate degrees, indicating a significant pool of educated but unemployed youth seeking employment avenues.

Responding to a written question by BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who also oversees the Labour and Employment portfolio, highlighted the Government’s commitment to formulating policies aimed at expanding employment opportunities across both skilled and unskilled sectors. He said that the latest data from the employment portal underscores the necessity of targeted initiatives to address joblessness and ensure sustainable livelihoods for youth in the region.

According to Choudhary, out of the total 3,70,811 unemployed youth registered, 66,628 are graduates, 47,114 postgraduates, 15,396 hold other degrees, and 9,884 possess diplomas. A baseline survey conducted by the Government further revealed that out of 4.73 lakh individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 who were surveyed, a considerable portion expressed a willingness to work but remained unemployed due to a lack of adequate opportunities.

In response, the Government has rolled out various initiatives under Mission Youth to enhance employment prospects. Choudhary explained that the registration of unemployed youth on the employment portal is entirely voluntary, enabling job seekers to access different self-employment schemes provided by various departments. These initiatives aim to connect youth with skill development programs and job opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

Among the flagship employment schemes, the Mumkin Scheme, operational since the financial year 2020-21, has been designed to facilitate livelihood opportunities in the transport sector by enabling youth to acquire commercial vehicles through financial assistance and subsidies. The Tejaswini Scheme, introduced in 2022-23, focuses on empowering young women by providing financial and technical support to start their entrepreneurial ventures.

The Parvaaz Scheme, another significant initiative launched in 2022-23, assists aspiring candidates in preparing for competitive and recruitment examinations, ensuring they have better chances of securing government and private sector jobs. In addition to these schemes, the Government has introduced several self-employment and startup support programs, including Spurring Entrepreneurship, the Tourist Village Development Programme, and specialized initiatives for dental professionals and youth facing economic distress.

Choudhary emphasized the Government’s proactive approach to addressing unemployment, stating that 246 job fairs have been conducted across the Union Territory in the past three years. These fairs have facilitated the selection of 4,893 candidates through on-the-spot placements. Additionally, around 2,760 companies have participated in these job fairs, recommending 6,640 individuals for various skill training programs.

To further streamline employment facilitation, permanent district-level facilitation centres have been established, offering career counseling, skill enhancement workshops, and industry-oriented training sessions tailored to current market demands. The Government has also expanded skill development training across various sectors, witnessing active participation from youth seeking to enhance their employability.

With a strategic focus on entrepreneurship and self-reliance, the Government has launched Mission Yuva, a comprehensive employment-generation initiative approved by the Administrative Council. Choudhary stated that the program aims to create over 1,37,000 new enterprises and generate more than 4,25,000 job opportunities over the next five years.

The initiative follows a structured, four-pronged approach to addressing unemployment. The first component involves identifying potential entrepreneurs through a baseline survey, using technology-enabled tools and deploying field investigators to assess challenges and opportunities. The second aspect focuses on credit enablement and market support, wherein subsidies and interest subventions are provided to nano entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The objective is to strengthen market linkages and improve business prospects for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The third pillar of the initiative involves building a technology-driven ecosystem, leveraging artificial intelligence tools and sector-specific skill training to enhance entrepreneurial efficiency. An online marketplace is also being developed to ensure better connectivity between businesses and customers. Finally, the program emphasizes focused engagement and institutional support, ensuring that a wide range of self-employment schemes and financial assistance programs reach potential entrepreneurs.

Choudhary reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to reducing unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir by creating an enabling environment for both job seekers and entrepreneurs. He stressed that these employment-driven initiatives are not just about providing immediate job placements but also about fostering long-term economic stability and growth in the Union Territory.