SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that 9,416 engineers are currently registered as unemployed across the Union Territory, making them the largest group among degree holders seeking jobs. The figures were presented in the Legislative Assembly in response to a starred question by MLA Bharat Bhushan, which sought details on the total number of unemployed professionals and the measures being taken to provide employment opportunities through fast-track recruitment.
According to official data compiled by the Labour and Employment Department, 555 medical graduates, 252 dental graduates, and 9,416 engineering postgraduates have so far registered themselves as unemployed on the official employment portal of Jammu and Kashmir, which is linked to the National Career Service (NCS) portal of the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment. The department clarified that registration on the portal is voluntary, and therefore the actual number of unemployed professionals could be higher.
The data also includes candidates who have completed paramedical courses such as General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) and Multi-Purpose Health Worker (MPHW) training, many of whom remain without formal placements in the public or private sectors.
The Labour and Employment Department informed the Assembly that efforts are underway to improve employment avenues through fast-track recruitment drives and other initiatives coordinated with line departments. However, it did not specify a timeline for any forthcoming recruitment cycle.
The government said it is exploring measures to expedite the recruitment process, especially in technical and health-related departments where a large number of vacancies are yet to be filled. The integration of the UT’s employment portal with the national database, officials said, aims to make job searches more transparent and to align skill sets with opportunities both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The department also highlighted that ongoing schemes, including entrepreneurship support programmes under Mission Youth and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), are being promoted to help educated youth, including engineers and paramedics, establish self-employment ventures instead of depending solely on government jobs.
With the engineering sector contributing the highest share of registered unemployment, legislators across party lines have urged the government to prioritise pending recruitment in technical departments, where hundreds of posts remain vacant. The government, in its reply, said that “fast-track recruitment” remains a policy priority under review to address rising professional unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.
