Impact of Educational Attainment on Employment Outcomes in Jammu and Kashmir

This study investigates the relationship between educational attainment and employment outcomes in Jammu and Kashmir, drawing on Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data. Given the high rates of educated yet unemployed individuals in the region, the study explores how education levels influence the likelihood of being employed, unemployed, or inactive. The analysis reveals a complex interaction between education and employment, where higher educational attainment does not straightforwardly lead to better employment outcomes. While more educated individuals exhibit lower inactivity rates but face higher unemployment, suggesting a significant skill mismatch. The occupation-wise analysis provides additional insights, showing that highly educated individuals are concentrated in managerial, educational, and creative professions, yet competition in these fields results in limited employment opportunities. Conversely, lowereducated individuals are absorbed mainly in agriculture, trade, and elementary occupations, which remain accessible but offer limited economic mobility. Industry-wise, the findings show that agriculture is a primary employer for lower-educated individuals. In contrast, highereducated individuals aim for positions in the public and service sectors, where opportunities are constrained.