Col Shiv Choudhary (Retd)
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (UT of J&K), Government jobs have long been viewed as the gold standard of employment as symbols of stability, security, and social standing. However, in a rapidly evolving economic landscape, this aspiration has morphed into an unhealthy obsession. With limited vacancies and an ever-growing number of applicants, thousands of educated youth find themselves trapped in a cycle of waiting, disillusionment, and passivity.
Ironically, while local youth turn away from available work, over seven lakh migrant workers from states like Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are filling essential roles in construction, transport, hospitality, driving, vending, and domestic services across the UT. These opportunities exist, yet social stigma, outdated mindsets, and lack of career guidance prevent local youth from seizing them.
This reluctance to engage in available work comes at a steep economical and psychological cost. Many young people especially in rural areas are dropping out of higher education, not due to poor performance, but because they no longer see the value in degrees that don’t lead to employment. Disheartened parents are increasingly advising their children to forgo further education and start earning early, further feeding the cycle.
Despite efforts like new universities, technical institutes, and job fairs, results have been underwhelming. Poor placements, systemic inefficiencies, and a reservation system that sometimes sideline merit, have limited the impact of these initiatives. In several districts, few students secure jobs, despite the frequency of recruitment drives.
The fallout is visible and alarming. Highly qualified individuals including PhDs and postgraduates now queue up for posts not befitting their education. Coaching centres are shutting down. Government school standards remain low, and private education is often unaffordable, forcing many to exit the education system altogether. The result is a paradox: youth who are overqualified for basic jobs, underqualified for skilled ones, and are unwilling to accept either.
J&K today faces a unique labour paradox; not a shortage of people, but a shortage of willing workers. While the private sector remains fragile and agriculture has declined due to shrinkage agricultural land, traditional industries and business practices like handicrafts, apples, shawls and tourism are also floundering due to underinvestment, and lack of innovation. The 2022 Sub-Inspector recruitment, which drew nearly 95,000 applicants for just 1,200 posts, is a stark indicator of the crisis. Meanwhile, over 32,000 Government posts remain vacant, stalled by administrative delays.
Recent AI-backed data underscores this reality. J&K’s unemployment rate stands at 6.7%, nearly double the national average, while youth unemployment is at 17.4%. The situation is worst for urban and educated women where more than 53% are jobless, and the highest female unemployment rate in India.
Actually, the problem is not just lack of jobs, it is also a lack of mindset shift. On social media and in everyday conversations, many youth express frustration, yet cling to the notion that only a Government job offers legitimacy. This rigid view prevents exploration of entrepreneurial avenues, trades, new-age sectors, and seeking jobs outside the J&K. Some even point out the contrast: youth from Kashmir are venturing abroad to build futures, while many in Jammu remain idle and disheartened.
It’s time to reframe the narrative. Every skill, be it digital literacy & online marketing, building network, knowledge of social media marketing, SEO, WhatsApp/Instagram marketing, use of platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, local e-commerce sites, tourism and eco-tourism, handicrafts (Pashmina, Papier-mâché, woodwork), horticulture (apples, saffron, walnuts), agri-business and organic farming, adaptability, craftsmanship, design, packaging, web development, app designing, tailoring, plumbing, cooking, carpentry, cooking, boutique, painting, manufacturing or planting. These are not fallback options but viable paths to self-reliance and societal contribution. Waiting endlessly while others seize these opportunities only prolongs and surges up the crisis.
The path forward is clear, but it demands collective will. Skill development schemes like PMKVY, a entrepreneurship oriented diploma or certificate course must be localized and suiting the local employment environment, with built-in mentorship, credit access, and job placements. Sectors like agricultural, food processing, handicrafts, and digital services must be revived and modernized. Infrastructure projects should prioritize local hiring. Gender-inclusive policies must provide women with training, safety, and mobility. Education must shift from rote learning to practical, entrepreneurial, and career-linked instruction, including vocational exposure and internships. And just as importantly, we must address mental health and rebuild the self-esteem of a frustrated generation.
The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are not lacking in talent or ambition, they are indeed lacking opportunities, support, guidance and a new direction. The time has come to move beyond the outdated dream of waiting for a Government job. The future belongs to those willing to create one not just for themselves, but for others. It is time for our talented youth to become employers, than being dependent employees to better their lot and of the UT of J&K
(The writer is change maker and a motivational speaker).
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