JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday informed the legislative assembly that the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has steadily declined since 2019, while the region’s economy is poised for significant growth.
Responding to a query by National Conference legislator Mubarak Gul, Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar, stated that unemployment had reduced from 6.7% in 2019-20 to 6.1% in 2023-24.
ALSO READ: Blast Outside Amritsar Temple Sparks Panic, Probe Underway
“The improvement is evident in the rise of the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and Worker Population Ratio (WPR), reaching 64.3% and 64.4%, respectively, in 2023-24, signaling better employment prospects across the region,” the Minister said.
He highlighted that the sustained decline in unemployment, coupled with rising LFPR and WPR, demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening the job market, fueling economic progress, and enhancing overall living standards.
The Minister further revealed that 11,526 recruitments were carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) between 2023-24. Of these, JKPSC recruited 2,175 candidates, while JKSSB appointed 9,351 aspirants.
ALSO READ: Fresh Snowfall and Rains Lash Kashmir
However, Mubarak Gul challenged the figures, pointing out discrepancies with independent unemployment reports. He also questioned whether the administration had plans for fast-tracked recruitment. In response, the Minister assured that necessary steps would be taken to accelerate the hiring process.
Meanwhile, last week, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presented Jammu and Kashmir’s economic survey in the assembly, the first such report since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and its transition into a Union Territory.
The survey projects J&K’s economy to expand at 7.06% in 2024-25, with the region’s total economic size estimated at ₹2.65 lakh crore and its real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at ₹1.45 lakh crore.
The employment outlook also remains positive. “Unemployment has dropped by 0.6 percentage points to 6.1% in 2023-24, down from 6.7% in 2019-20, reflecting greater job creation and economic momentum,” the report stated.
