Unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir: When Education Becomes a Burden.

Unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir has become a quiet emergency, particularly among educated youth. Degrees that once promised dignity and stability now lead to endless waiting. After years of academic hardship, even Ph.D. scholars are compelled to move from one temporary position to another, while permanent employment remains scarce and unpredictable. Higher education no longer assures opportunity. Changing eligibility criteria frequently exclude graduates and postgraduates, and even the most qualified candidates face repeated rejection due to delayed recruitments and limited vacancies. Merit increasingly gives way to uncertainty, weakening trust in institutions and deepening frustration among young aspirants who have invested their best years in education. Meanwhile, the government continues to focus on salary hikes for those already employed, while job creation receives far less attention. While fair wages are important, employment opportunities matter more. This imbalance sends a painful message to the unemployed youth that their struggles remain unseen and unaddressed. The human cost of this crisis is immense. Fathers who sold land, took loans, and sacrificed their dreams to educate their children are still working well into old age. For many families, education once a symbol of hope has turned into a source of anxiety and fear. The promise that education would secure a better future now feels increasingly hollow.