IIOJK women face highest unemployment rate in region
Srinagar: Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continues to grapple with an unemployment crisis, particularly for women, as India-based latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reveals a staggering 53.6% of young females unable to secure jobs, the highest rate in the South Asian region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the situation is exacerbated by IIOJK’s undefined political future, where frequent killings, arrests, and the incapacitation of men have forced women to step out of their homes to become breadwinners. However, the lack of job opportunities has left many struggling to make ends meet.
The PLFS data paints a grim picture of the overall youth unemployment rate in IIOJK, which stands at 32% among urban job seekers aged 15-29, far exceeding the national average.
Experts attribute the crisis to structural issues in the job market, compounded by political instability and the absence of effective economic policies.
With over 352,000 youth registered as unemployed in the first quarter of 2024, including nearly 31% graduates and postgraduates, the urgency for sustainable economic reforms and targeted initiatives to empower Kashmiri women is more pressing than ever.
