SRINAGAR: More than 3.6 lakh educated youth are registered as unemployed across Jammu and Kashmir, according to official data ending September 2025. The figures show that the Kashmir division has a larger share of jobless educated youth compared to the Jammu division.
As per the data, the total number of educated unemployed youth in the Union Territory stands at 3,61,146, including 2,33,845 males and 1,27,301 females. The Kashmir division alone accounts for 2,08,659 unemployed youth, while the Jammu division has 1,52,487.
In the Kashmir division, Anantnag district tops the list with 32,298 educated unemployed youth, followed by Pulwama with 28,671, and Srinagar with 23,826. Kulgam has 21,446, Baramulla 19,555, Kupwara 19,361, Shopian 18,587, Ganderbal 17,180, Budgam 16,659, and Bandipora 10,769.
In the Jammu division, Kathua leads with 26,798 unemployed youth, followed by Samba with 17,458, and Poonch with 16,510. Jammu district has 16,149, Rajouri 15,643, Ramban 13,882, Doda 13,196, Reasi 12,376, Udhampur 11,605, and Kishtwar 8,870.
The numbers underline the persistent employment crisis in the Union Territory, with educated youth continuing to depend on limited government job opportunities and slow private sector growth. Officials said efforts are underway to promote entrepreneurship and skill development schemes to absorb the growing number of educated job seekers across districts.
