2, 13,007 registered in Kashmir: 1,57,804 in Jammu
Vikas Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 24: The Jammu and Kashmir government has made significant strides in addressing unemployment among its youth, as highlighted in the recent statement shared in the Legislative Assembly by the Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary.
According to the data provided, a total of 3,70,811 unemployed youth were registered on the state’s employment portal by the end of January 2025. The number of youth registered in Kashmir Division are 2,13,007, while 1,57,804 youth are registered in Jammu Division.
The Deputy Chief Minister explained that the registration process on the employment portal is voluntary, allowing youth to avail themselves of multiple opportunities provided by various government departments.
“These schemes not only aim to provide traditional job placements but also focus on encouraging self-employment through programs that support entrepreneurship. The government’s approach is reflective of an evolving strategy that is centered on providing both direct employment and fostering entrepreneurial opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
In this context, the Mission YUVA initiative plays a crucial role. The initiative, which is part of the administrative council’s efforts, is designed to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among the youth and promote self-reliance.
As of February 2, 2025, the Baseline Survey of Mission YUVA has identified a total of 5,58,870 potential entrepreneurs, among these, 1, 54, 695 are employed, 3,47,247 are unemployed, while 56,928 remain unregistered.
“The Mission YUVA initiative aims to empower these potential entrepreneurs by supporting them with the necessary resources and a structured approach to building sustainable enterprises. The goal is ambitious: to create over 137,000 new enterprises and generate more than 425,000 employment opportunities over the next five years,” the Minister said.
In addition to fostering entrepreneurship, the government has also been working directly to provide jobs to the youth through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).
“Over the past two years, the government has made a total of 12,524 selections or appointments in the government sector. In 2023, JKPSC appointed 1,141 youth, while JKSSB selected 3,695 youth and 45 youth received compassionate appointments. In 2024, the numbers remained strong with 871 youth appointed by JKPSC and 5,656 youth selected by JKSSB. Furthermore, 1,116 youth received compassionate appointments in the same year. These appointments are part of the government’s continued efforts to provide stable and formal employment to the youth,” he informed.
The government has also conducted several job fairs, providing further opportunities for both skilled and unskilled youth to be absorbed into the workforce.
The data shared by the Deputy Chief Minister reveals that, in 2022-23, 2,978 youth were absorbed into the government sector, while in 2023-24, the number decreased slightly to 2,807.
As of January 2025, 855 youth have been absorbed, showing the ongoing efforts to reduce unemployment despite some fluctuations in the numbers.
One of the most significant aspects of the government’s approach has been the improvement in the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir. The unemployment rate in the region has seen a decline from 6.7% in 2019-20 to 6.1% in 2023-24.
The year-wise breakdown shows a gradual reduction in the unemployment rate over the past few years, with 2022-23 witnessing a rate of 4.4%, and 2021-22 at 5.2%.
The decrease in the unemployment rate is indicative of the success of the government’s programs and initiatives to create jobs and promote self-employment.
Although the unemployment rate remains relatively high compared to other regions, the downward trend is a positive sign that the government’s efforts are starting to show tangible results.
In conclusion, the Jammu and Kashmir government’s multi-pronged approach to tackling unemployment and promoting self-employment has been showing progress.
“With continued focus on these initiatives, Jammu and Kashmir is on a path to creating a more sustainable and self-reliant youth workforce. However, the ongoing challenge remains in ensuring that these programs reach the vast number of unemployed youth and that the opportunities provided lead to long-term stability and economic growth in the region,” Dy CM concluded.
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