Both the central and the Union Territory of J&K’s government share the responsibility of providing the government jobs to the educated unemployed youth of the region as parties in power in J&K and in the centre had assured number of times that they will eliminate joblessness from J&K in run up to Lok Sabha and the Assembly polls.
There is no doubt that the challenge is colossal because the government of J&K has informed the Assembly that a total of 3,61,146 educated unemployed youth are currently registered across the Union Territory as of September 2025, making it amply clear that huge lots of jobs are required to adjust these youths seeking employment in various UT and central level departments.
As per the data given in the Assembly, the Kashmir Division accounts for over 2.08 lakh registrations, while the Jammu Division accounts for over 1.52 lakh. Srinagar district leads the list with 23,826 registered unemployed youth, followed by Anantnag (32,298), Pulwama (28,671), Kathua (26,798), and Kulgam (21,446). The lowest registrations were reported from Kishtwar (8,870) and Reasi (12,376) districts. Among the total registered unemployed youth, 2,33,845 are male and 1,27,301 are female.
It is good that reportedly the Employment Department, under Mission Youth and Mission YUVA, is working to generate 4.25 lakh job opportunities through the creation of 1.37 lakh entrepreneurship units, focusing on self-employment, startups, and skill development but till the time these plans will materialize one cannot say with the surety that what has been envisaged will give the expected output.
It is therefore necessary that the Omar Abdullah led NC Government should work out a workable plan and for that matter the centre should also come up with some exclusive employment packages for the educated youths to give steer them towards a meaningful life making them nation builders of the future.
It is good that the district-level Employment and Counselling Centres are conducting Career Melas and Rozgar Melas to engage youth, promote innovation, and raise awareness about livelihood opportunities but going by the gigantic numbers of unemployed youths in J&K, it is the time that all the helmsmen whether in UT government or the centre should start working on war footing to counter the serious issue of unemployment in J&K as this scourge has the potential to create more problems as was seen in the 1990s, because unemployment also played a dangerous role in emergence of turmoil in J&K especially the Valley.
It is therefore advisable for the governments to channelize the potential of educated youth into productive avenues, ensuring meaningful employment to ensure that things move in the right direction in J&K.
