5.5 lakh apply for 4000 posts; unemployment rate highest in UT
Srinagar, Nov 30: Unemployment continues to plague Jammu and Kashmir, with recent data painting a grim picture of joblessness, particularly among the youth and women. The situation underscores the region’s limited economic opportunities and lack of robust private sector growth.
Javid Ahmad, one of the aspirants, expressed his frustration, saying, “A government job is considered secure here. The private sector has not developed, and in the private sector, there is neither job security nor adequate pay.”
The gender disparity in unemployment rates is even more striking. The survey notes a staggering 53.6% unemployment rate among females in Jammu and Kashmir, the highest in the country. This figure sheds light on the pressing need for targeted interventions to improve women’s participation in the workforce.
Nationally, the overall youth unemployment rate for the July-September quarter stood at 15.9%, reflecting a slight improvement from the previous quarter’s 16.8%. However, the double-digit unemployment rates reported in 20 out of 22 states and Union Territories emphasize the widespread nature of the issue.
Comparative data from other regions highlight the severity of the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. While Odisha grapples with a 28.1% male unemployment rate, and Andhra Pradesh and Bihar report rates of 22.5% and 21.5%, respectively, states like Delhi and Gujarat demonstrate more resilient job markets.
Adding to these figures, the Directorate of Employment (DoE) in Jammu and Kashmir reported that 3.52 lakh youth were registered as unemployed in the first quarter of 2024. Of these, 1.09 lakh, or 31%, hold graduate or postgraduate qualifications.
