Solution: Vocational training, microfinance, educational reform, and mental health support
Syed Mustafa Ahmed
Regardless of how one defines unemployment, its long-term effects are nothing short of disastrous. It ranks among the most pressing challenges confronting any society. In Kashmir, this reality manifests itself in the long queues of educated young people waiting for government jobs—positions widely regarded as symbols of security and social standing. These individuals have invested considerable time and resources in their education. Yet paradoxically, they find themselves unable to meet their own basic needs, let alone support their families, forcing them into a state of dependency on others.
What value does education hold when it fails to secure a livelihood? Ironically, many uneducated individuals manage to earn a living and sustain themselves with reasonable comfort, while their educated counterparts wander, finding every path blocked and every door closed. They find themselves trapped in an endless tunnel of despair and frustration with no visible light at the end.
In earlier times, society did not witness such a desperate pursuit of government employment. Basic necessities were largely met within the family structure. Agricultural land was abundant, and most households achieved a degree of self-sufficiency. When additional needs arose, the barter system often provided practical solutions. Life moved at a slower pace, desires remained limited, and contentment prevailed as a shared social value. A single earning member could comfortably support an extended family. Gratitude formed the bedrock of social relations, and ingratitude was scarcely known in daily discourse.
However, the passage of time has transformed everything. Needs have multiplied exponentially, and gratitude has become increasingly rare in social interactions. Where selflessness once characterised human relationships, self-interest now dominates. A culture of self-reliance has given way to dependency on markets and external sources. Materialism has established itself as the defining principle of contemporary existence.
In today’s interconnected world, unemployment has transcended local boundaries to become a global phenomenon, intensified by automation and artificial intelligence that continue to render traditional occupations obsolete. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly revealed the vulnerability of job markets, leaving millions of young workers exposed to sudden layoffs and prolonged economic uncertainty. University degrees no longer guarantee employment, as employers increasingly prioritise practical skills and digital competencies that conventional education often neglects to impart. The expanding gig economy offers certain opportunities, yet it frequently lacks the stability, healthcare coverage, and retirement benefits associated with formal employment.
Furthermore, climate change and the transition toward sustainable economies are rendering some industries obsolete while simultaneously creating new roles that demand specialised training and adaptation. Young people today must continuously upgrade their skills merely to remain employable—a pressure unknown to previous generations. Social media amplifies frustration, as young people constantly compare their struggles with curated portrayals of success that populate their screens. Mental health crises among unemployed youth have reached alarming proportions, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide demanding urgent attention from policymakers and communities alike. Addressing this crisis requires not merely job creation but a fundamental reimagining of educational systems, economic policies, and social support structures worldwide.
In this rapidly evolving landscape, young people struggle to keep pace with the demands of the information age. Their needs are multiple and pressing—personal requirements, family obligations, and future aspirations all demand substantial financial resources that remain perpetually out of reach. Many find themselves questioning the value of their education, unable to comprehend how years of study could culminate in such exhausting uncertainty.
What options exist for young people in the present era? The available pathways are distressingly few. Government employment resembles a mirage—visible from a distance but rarely attainable. When opportunities do arise, they are frequently compromised by nepotism and corruption, twin evils that exploit the desperation of job seekers. The private sector, constrained by global economic pressures and domestic instability, continues to shrink its workforce rather than expand it. Self-employment remains a distant dream for most, given the absence of supportive ecosystems for start-up ventures. Compounding these difficulties is the prevailing social attitude that regards private employment and entrepreneurship with scepticism, considering them inferior substitutes for government positions.
The government must assume greater responsibility for mitigating unemployment. Young people increasingly feel alienated from mainstream society, their spirits broken by prolonged idleness and rejection. This generation demands urgent attention and meaningful intervention. They require not only financial assistance but also proper guidance, mentorship, and institutional support. Ultimately, economic empowerment alone will enable them to move forward with confidence and purpose.
Empowering young people demands concrete action on multiple fronts. Governments must invest in vocational training programs that teach market-relevant skills—digital literacy, renewable energy technologies, digital marketing, and technical trades—rather than relying exclusively on theoretical education. Microfinance initiatives and youth entrepreneurship schemes offering low-interest loans can transform innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises that generate employment for others.
International cooperation assumes critical importance, as youth migration will continue unabated unless domestic opportunities expand through foreign investment and technology transfer. The private sector requires incentives—tax benefits, subsidies, and regulatory simplifications—to recruit fresh graduates and provide on-the-job training rather than demanding prior experience. Community-based solutions, including cooperatives and shared resource arrangements, can help young people collectively overcome financial barriers to business creation. Educational curricula stand in urgent need of reform, incorporating financial literacy, critical thinking, adaptability, and entrepreneurial mindsets alongside traditional academic subjects.
Governments and civil society organisations must establish mental health support networks specifically designed for unemployed youth, offering professional counselling and peer support groups that address the psychological toll of joblessness. Media outlets bear responsibility for highlighting success stories—young entrepreneurs and self-starters who have forged their own paths despite overwhelming odds, thereby providing inspiration and practical models for others to emulate.
Ultimately, resolving the youth unemployment crisis requires treating it not as an inevitable tragedy but as a solvable problem demanding urgency, innovation, and sustained commitment from every sector of society. Let us hope for a better tomorrow for our educated, unemployed youth, and let us dedicate ourselves to building that future through determined and collective effort.
sy**********@***il.com