Srinagar- The unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has declined from 6.7 percent in 2019-21 to 5.2 percent in 2021-2022, according to a report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The report, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer revealed that the unemployment rate in the UT was 5.1 in the year 2018-2019 and rose to 6.7 percent in 2019-2020. The percentage came down to 5.9 in the year 2020-21 and 5.2 percent in 2021-2022.
As per the report, the unemployment rate is the usual status for persons of age 15 years.
The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July to June of the next year.
As per the latest available Annual PLFS reports, the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above was 5.8%, 4.8%, 4.2% and 4.1% during 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively, which shows that the unemployment rate in the country has declining trend.
As per the reports, the estimated Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above was 50.2%, 53.5%, 54.9% and 55.2% during 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively, which shows an increasing trend in the labor force.
The Government said that they have taken various steps to improve the Labour Force Participation Rate in the country including women’s participation in the labour force and quality of their employment.
While rejecting the monthly reports of private agencies involved in the surveys, Director Employment Jammu and Kashmir, Nisar Ahmad Wani told Kashmir Observer that this is the actual unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said various steps are being taken to bring it down further.
“The reports of the private agencies aren’t based on facts and are faulty in their approach,” Wani told Kashmir Observer.
Notably, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) would monthly come-up with the unemployment percentage in the country and would show J&K in a “worrying situation”.
In March, the CMIE put the unemployment rate of Jammu and Kashmir at 23.1 per cent. In January, the unemployment rate in J&K was put at 21.8 percent, which is the highest in states and UTs across.
Wani said that the government took serious notes of the “factually incorrect” percentage and informed the central government. “The agency didn’t have any work force in the valley and would take only six districts for the survey, which was wrong,” Wani added.
Notably, the CMIE is not coming up with the unemployment percentage for the J&K from the last four months.
Wani said that efforts are on to bring the unemployment rate to zero in the next two to three years.
“Currently there are 14 government departments that are working on self-help employment schemes in the J&K,” said Wani adding that “Government gives subsidy and encourage the youngsters to take benefit of government schemes,”
Wani further said that the department conducted 84 job fairs, which attracted hundreds of companies from the private sector offering thousands of jobs for the youth.
“The efforts are on but the youth need to come forward and stand on their own feet,” Wani added.
He informed that there are around 2.5 lakh unemployed youth registered with the government in the UT of different age groups.
Earlier, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha said that over 30,000 government posts have been filled in the last three years while recruitment for another 20,000 posts in the administration will be advertised in 3-4 months. He said all the vacant posts in various Government departments will be filled in the next six months through a “major recruitment drive.
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