Skill development, industrial growth spur employment in J&K

Industrial growth and various government schemes have played a significant role in reducing unemployment levels in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Last week, the statistics presented by the government in the Assembly suggest that unemployment rate in the region declined from 6.7 per cent in 2019-2020 to 6.1 per cent in 2023-2024.

According to the statistics, in the private industrial sector, the government programs like Prime Ministers Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) created 45,688 employment opportunities in between 2022 to 2024. 

Between 2022-23, 15,619 jobs were generated, while in 2023-24, the number rose to 45,688.

Additionally, 9.58 lakh self-employment opportunities were created through various government schemes including Mumkin and  Tejaswani from 2023 to January 2025. 

Of these, 29,926 jobs were created in 2021-22, 2,883,664 in 2022-23, 238,675 in 2023-24, and 136,165 in 2024-25 (up to January 2025). 

Moreover, 11562 selections have been made in different government departments through recruitment boards. 

According to the government, their various schemes promoted entrepreneurship initiatives under Mission Youth. 

Skill development

The government is intensifying efforts to tackle unemployment by expanding skill development programs and promoting placement initiatives across the region. Over the years, the region’s technical education sector has witnessed quantum growth with the number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) going up  from 7 to 54, alongside 22 polytechnic colleges and 32 private functional ITIs. These ITIs now have a combined intake capacity of 18,600, aimed at equipping youth with industry-relevant skills and enhancing their employability. They offer short and long term courses in 62 different course.

 Similarly, polytechnic colleges have a combined capacity of 4,965 students, providing formal technical training to equip them with industry-specific skills.

Low unemployment rates post abrogation

In contrast to different surveys indicating high unemployment rates in Jammu and Kashmir post August 2019, the government data reveals that the unemployment rates has witnessed a dip since then. 

According to the Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir, the unemployment rate stood at 6.7 per cent in 2019-2020, 5.9 per cent in 2020-2021, 5.2 per cent in 2021-2022, 4.4 per cent in 2022-2023, and 6.1 per cent in 2023-2024.

The statistics show a declining trend from 2019 to 2023, reaching a low of 4.4 per cent in 2022-2023. It rose again to 6.1 per cent in 2023-2024, indicating a reversal in the trend.

However, in November 2024, the Periodic Labour Force Survey reported that Jammu and Kashmir had a 32 per cent youth unemployment rate.