As per the National Youth Policy, an individual between 15 and 29 years of age is defined as youth.
In Jammu & Kashmir, the total youth population is 2.50 million, according to the 2022 survey report, of which 370,811 educated youth have registered as unemployed (213,007 in the Kashmir division and 157,804 in the Jammu division, as per the early 2025 report). The unemployment rate among youth in J&K stands at around 17.4%, significantly higher than the national average of 10.2%.
Despite various government initiatives and schemes such as Mission Youth, Mumkin, Tejaswini, and PMEGP to support entrepreneurship and self-employment, limited access to capital, lack of mentorship, and procedural hurdles continue to discourage startups — all of which remain major concerns.
Several other factors contribute to this problem, including:
A weak private sector and industrial base, forcing youth to seek government jobs.
Skill gaps and irrelevant education.
Political instability.
Seasonality and sectoral vulnerability.
These remain barriers to accessing better job opportunities.
The youth of J&K are not lacking in talent or ambition. Highly qualified and professionally certified, they only require the right opportunities.
Due to the rising unemployment rate, the youth of J&K are facing financial distress, leading to mental stress, a growing sense of insecurity and identity crisis, and an increased risk of radicalization or drug dependence.
Unemployment in Jammu & Kashmir is a serious socio-economic challenge — shaped by limited industrial growth, political instability, skill gaps, and inadequate private-sector opportunities.
In essence, unemployment in J&K is a silent killer of potential, stability, and growth. Addressing it with urgency, innovation, and inclusivity is the need of the hour.
About the Author:
Asif Gulam has been working with a freelance news portal for five years. He usually writes about various socio-political issues in the community. You can reach him at asifgulam21@gmail.com.
