{"id":197960,"date":"2026-04-07T11:25:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/?p=197960"},"modified":"2026-04-07T11:25:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:25:53","slug":"a-generation-in-limbo-youth-unemployment-in-iiojk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kmsnews.org\/kms\/2026\/04\/07\/a-generation-in-limbo-youth-unemployment-in-iiojk.html","title":{"rendered":"A Generation in Limbo: Youth Unemployment in IIOJK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"The issue of unemployment among the young in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has emerged as a critical socio-economic challenge. Its scale and persistence not only reflect economic fragility but also expose deep-rooted structural and political constraints that hinder sustainable development. According to the Labour Force Survey 2024\u201325, the unemployment rate among individuals aged 15 and above in IIOJK stands at 6.7 percent\u2014nearly double India\u2019s average of 3.5 percent\u2014highlighting a stark disparity in economic opportunities and the region\u2019s inability to absorb its growing workforce.<\/p>\n

The seriousness of the situation has also been acknowledged at the official level. During a session of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in February 2026, policymakers recognized unemployment as a major impediment to economic growth. Official data shows that around 3.49 lakh (349,000) unemployed youth are registered with District Employment and Counselling Centres. Additionally, a baseline survey under the Mission YUVA programme indicates that nearly 473,000 individuals aged 18\u201350 are willing to work but lack access to adequate job opportunities. These figures suggest a much deeper, largely unrecorded unemployment crisis.<\/p>\n

A longitudinal analysis based on Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data shows a fluctuating yet persistently high unemployment trend. The rate stood at 6.7 percent in 2019\u201320, declined gradually to 5.9 percent in 2020\u201321, 5.2 percent in 2021\u201322, and 4.4 percent in 2022\u201323, before rising again to 6.1 percent in 2023\u201324 and 6.7 percent in 2024\u201325. In contrast, India\u2019s unemployment rate remained relatively stable and significantly lower, averaging around 3.5 percent during the same period. Urban unemployment in IIOJK is particularly acute, exceeding 10 percent in some areas, with educated women facing disproportionate barriers to employment.<\/p>\n

Despite India\u2019s repeated claims of progress and development following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, the ground reality in IIOJK tells a different story. Persistent unemployment, especially among educated youth, underscores the disconnect between official narratives and lived experiences. Rather than witnessing broad-based economic uplift, many Kashmiris continue to struggle with limited opportunities, economic uncertainty, and systemic constraints, making unemployment a key indicator of the territory\u2019s unresolved challenges.<\/p>\n

Since 2019, unemployment in IIOJK has been driven not only by economic factors but also by political instability and security concerns. Militarization, lockdowns, and frequent internet shutdowns have disrupted daily life, business activity, and investor confidence. Key sectors such as tourism, handicrafts, agriculture, and small enterprises have suffered significantly, while limited industrialization and a weak private sector have increased reliance on government jobs as the primary employment avenue.<\/p>\n

The social consequences of unemployment are equally severe. A large number of educated young people are unable to secure stable employment, leading to frustration, disillusionment, and a sense of marginalization. This has triggered migration to other regions and countries, resulting in a loss of skilled human capital and undermining long-term development. At the same time, intense competition for limited government jobs forces candidates to invest heavily in applications with little success, widening the gap between expectations and opportunities and fueling public dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n

Unemployment in IIOJK is more than just an economic issue; it represents prolonged instability, uncertainty, and lost potential, leaving an entire generation in limbo. Political unrest, security challenges, and economic stagnation continue to hinder the ability of youth to secure sustainable livelihoods or plan for the future. The ripple effects are felt across society through declining incomes, reduced consumption, and rising social tensions.<\/p>\n

While policies and employment programmes exist, short-term interventions are insufficient to address the structural roots of the crisis. Sustainable development in IIOJK requires political stability, a stronger private sector, and meaningful investment in skills and entrepreneurship. Without such reforms, the region\u2019s youth will remain marginalized, and IIOJK will continue to lag behind in economic and social progress.<\/p>\n

In essence, the unemployment crisis in IIOJK is complex and deeply entrenched, with far-reaching economic and social consequences. The long-standing regional disparities and structural instability continue to deprive young people of meaningful opportunities. Without comprehensive and sustained reforms, the youth will remain trapped in uncertainty, and the region will continue to be left behind in development.<\/p>\n

The writer is a student of International Relations at International Islamic University, Islamabad and currently she is serving as an intern at Kashmir Institute of International Relations, Islamabad.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The issue of unemployment among the young in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has emerged as a critical socio-economic challenge. Its scale and persistence not only reflect economic fragility but also expose deep-rooted structural and political constraints that hinder sustainable development. According to the Labour Force Survey 2024\u201325, the unemployment rate among …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":197961,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-197960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t