Lack of skills in the economy’s labour demands
Editorial . . . . .
Given the fact that the national unemployment rate has dropped, the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 25% for the month of March. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), J&K has a 25% unemployment rate, which is higher than the 7.6% national unemployment rate. CMIE employs its Consumer Pyramids Household Survey machinery to assess unemployment rates. India’s unemployment rate, according to the CMIE, is 7.6%, which means J&K has a significantly higher unemployment rate than the national average. In view of this, the only and the only alternative is to develop skills among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
In our UT of Jammu and Kashmir, entering the labour market is a major challenge for the younger generation. A plethora of problems, it goes without saying, obstruct the road. The recent economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak revealed how difficult it is to integrate young people into the labour market. Unemployment rates and the number of unemployed youth have grown substantially. J&K is experiencing a youth bulge, with more than half of the state’s population aged 18 to 40, which is likely to continue in the next few decades. In our state’s political economy, youth constitute the most important category.
Unfortunately, only a small number of our youngsters have access to a good education. In order for adolescents, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, to build career possibilities, additional skill-oriented programmes are required. We all know that the unemployment rate in Jammu & Kashmir is among the highest in the country. Unemployment and underemployment are two of the most serious problems that our people face, and they act as major impediments to economic success. One of the main causes of unemployment in this country is a lack of qualified human resources. In the current context, it is becoming increasingly evident that work opportunities for graduates of general themes are becoming limited. At the bachelor’s degree level, education is neither market-oriented nor skill-oriented.
Our youth do not have the skills that the market requires. As a result, there is a mismatch between what the market requires and what we provide. As a result, it is a problem of unemployment in the classic sense. However, in today’s world, it’s primarily a serious problem of employment. Today, providing the workforce with the skills needed for today’s and tomorrow’s occupations is a major challenge. We don’t have any solid plans to get out of the skill shortage economy. Too much emphasis on traditional schooling has obfuscated the importance of skill development in our young, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The government must prioritise creating skill development programmes for the younger generation. It is probably general information that well-implemented skill development programmes can considerably contribute to our socio-economic growth and improve the economic situation of the weakest members of society by providing them with decent working opportunities.
This brings up the topic of technical and vocational education and training in our UT, which has become a key governmental concern. The long list of insufficient production facilities is the result of a lack of funds for effective technical equipment upkeep and a focus on theory rather than practical skill optimization. Institutes do not equip them with the skills they need to compete in local and national employment marketplaces. Graduates from these institutions will almost probably have a diploma but no job. Technical and vocational training can help young people, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, gain employment opportunities. Nobody can doubt the significance of skill development programmes in assisting young people in reaching their full potential. The focus of a good technical and vocational education and training programme should be on curriculum quality and standardisation, as well as the transmission of practical skills. And, before beginning any skill development programme, it is critical to increase knowledge of the program’s benefits and downsides through proper channels so that the greatest number of individuals can benefit. To make them members of the state’s skilled human resource pool, the government should target young individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds with limited prospects and financial resources for higher education. Given the dwindling labour force and expanding senior population, a state with such a valuable resource as a young population has the opportunity to reinvent itself as a crucial supplier of qualified and experienced workers.
Our leaders, representatives and policy makers must focus on active and professional human resource development. Vocational training is crucial because it may help young people match their abilities to corporate demands. Bringing vocational training closer to the needs of rapidly changing and increasing labour markets and economies can assist young people in obtaining more productive and long-term employment. In the eyes of young people, a “good job” begins a long-term investment in and engagement with the labour market; thus, a job that includes formal training is by definition an excellent job. Further, there is also a need to work on the promotion of Traditional Skill Training in the promotion of local crafts.
