The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, June 30: Youth unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir has surged to a staggering 17.4%, far surpassing the national average of 10.2%, according to the Baseline Survey Report 2024-25 released under Mission YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan). The report, launched by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), paints a stark picture of employment challenges across the Union Territory, especially among women and urban youth.
The overall unemployment rate in J&K now stands at 6.7%, nearly double the national average of 3.5%, the report noted, citing data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24.
District-wise, Rajouri tops the list with the highest unemployment rate at 9.3%, followed by Anantnag at 8.7%. Samba, in contrast, recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 3%, while Jammu and Srinagar reported 3.3% and 5.9%, respectively.
The report underlines the gender gap as a pressing concern, revealing that urban female unemployment stands at an alarming 28.6%. “This underscores the urgent need for inclusive and gender-sensitive economic interventions,” it stated.
Mission YUVA, the flagship initiative unveiled by the Chief Minister, aims to create 1.37 lakh new enterprises and generate 4.25 lakh jobs in the next five years, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship-led growth.
“Entrepreneurship in J&K is emerging as a powerful catalyst for economic transformation,” the report notes, while also cautioning that access to capital and business support systems remain fragmented. Notably, J&K boasts a 48% self-employment rate, signaling untapped entrepreneurial potential, especially in the service sector.
The report also captures a significant structural shift in the region’s economy, highlighting a transition from agriculture to services. Agriculture’s contribution has declined from 28.06% in 2004-05 to just 16.91% in 2022-23, while the service sector now contributes 63.57% to J&K’s economy. Industrial growth, however, remains sluggish.
To address the rising joblessness, the report recommends promoting high-skilled, knowledge-sector enterprises and strengthening access to early-stage financing for startups and small-scale ventures.
Despite the uphill challenges, the report is optimistic: “J&K’s young workforce is increasingly embracing entrepreneurship, leveraging the region’s natural resources, rich heritage, and digital landscape to shape a resilient and inclusive economic future.”
