VIKAS SHARMA
JAMMU, SEPT 3: The India Skills Report 2025 has once again brought Jammu & Kashmir’s unemployment crisis into sharp focus, revealing that a large section of its youth remains unemployed and underskilled despite a growing number of graduates and postgraduates entering the job market every year.
J&K Youth at the Receiving End
While the national employability index shows modest improvement, Jammu & Kashmir continues to face challenges far deeper than the rest of the country. In recent years, J&K has consistently recorded one of the highest youth unemployment rates in India, with joblessness among the 15–29 age group crossing 30% in several surveys. Female unemployment has been even more alarming, often crossing 50%.
The Skills Report’s indicators resonate with the ground reality of J&K, where thousands of educated youth, including engineering and postgraduate degree holders, remain dependent on limited government jobs or migrate outside the Union Territory in search of work. The lack of adequate private sector presence and limited industrial growth have further compounded the problem.
Limited Vocational and Skill-Based Training
One of the critical reasons for J&K’s rising unemployment is the lack of access to quality vocational training. Nationally, the report shows that only half of students at secondary and university levels undergo vocational education. In J&K, this percentage is estimated to be much lower due to inadequate training centres, poor outreach in rural and hilly districts, and limited alignment with modern industry requirements.
For many rural youth, particularly in districts such as Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, and Kupwara, opportunities to acquire employable skills remain scarce. Even where training programs exist, gaps in infrastructure, outdated curricula, and poor industry linkage prevent them from translating into actual jobs.
Education-Employment Disconnect
Despite having multiple universities and degree colleges, J&K’s education system is struggling to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demand. While lakhs of students pass out every year with academic degrees, most lack practical and technical skills required in fast-growing sectors such as IT, artificial intelligence, data analytics, renewable energy, and digital services.
This mismatch leaves youth overqualified for low-paying jobs and underqualified for high-paying, specialized roles, pushing many into unemployment or underemployment.
Women Face Double Burden
The situation is even tougher for young women in J&K. With female employability dipping nationwide, the constraints of social norms, mobility restrictions, and fewer opportunities in the private sector make it harder for women to find suitable jobs. Even skilled women are often forced to stay outside the workforce due to lack of workplace support and opportunities.
Seasonal Economy and Sectoral Limitations
J&K’s economy is largely dependent on tourism, horticulture, handicrafts, and small-scale industries. These sectors, though vital, are seasonal in nature and fail to provide stable, year-round employment. Graduates in science, commerce, and technology often find little scope in these sectors, leading to frustration and migration.
National Snapshot
The India Skills Report 2025 notes that overall employability among Indian graduates has inched up to 55%, compared to 51.2% in 2024. However, 44.5% of Indians aged 20–24 remain unemployed, even among those with higher education degrees. Female employability is projected to fall to 47.5% in 2025, highlighting a gendered dimension to the employment crisis.
Experts argue that for J&K to tackle its unique challenges, massive investment in skill-based education, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship training is essential. Strengthening vocational centres, linking courses with industry demand, and empowering women with targeted skill development programs could pave the way for sustainable employment opportunities.
Unless urgent measures are taken, the growing mismatch between education and employability will continue to keep J&K’s youth on the margins of the job market, turning what should be a demographic dividend into a long-term liability.
