WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: At present J&K’s overall unemployment rate stands at 6.7%, significantly higher than the national average of 3.50%, the government of Jammu and Kashmir informed the assembly on Monday.
As per the data tabled in assembly it was further informed that unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir will be 6.7% in 2019-20 as compared to national average of 4.8%. In 2020-21, unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was 5.9% as compared to national average of 4.2%.
In 2021-22, unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was 5.2% as compared to national average of 4.1%. In 2022-23, unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was 4.4% as compared to national average of 3.2%.
In 2023-24, unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was 6.1% as compared to national average of 3.2%. Whereas, in 2024-25, unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was 6.7% as compared to national average of 3.5%.
The government further informed that Extensive survey has been conducted across the UT of J&K during the month January 2025 by Employment Department collaboration with the District Administration under Mission YUVA. Total 4.73 Lakhs individuals, in the age group 18-50 out of total 64.8 lakhs individuals surveyed in this age group have reported “Not working but willing to Work.
Addressing youth, remain unemployed, particularly among s a top priority of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. The Government’s strategy is not confined to short-term job- provisioning but is focused on creating sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship, skilling, and institutional reforms, so that youth become job-creators rather than jobseekers, the government informed.
Under Mission YUVA as on date, 16,141 applications have successfully completed the full cycle, resulting in bank sanctions of nearly {1,000 crore, with over t700 crore already disbursed. These figures translate into thousands of enterprises being established on the ground, supported by structured capacity-building, where 7,339 entrepreneurs have completed training and another 5,000 are currently undergoing training. Further the Employment Department, J&K formulated a policy/roadmap for creating employment opportunities for the educated unemployed youth in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the government infomed.
