The election bells are ringing in Bihar. The state assembly elections are scheduled in two phases: on November 6th and November 11th. Results will be announced on November 14th. Amid this political chaos, a pressing issue remains unresolved in every village and household: unemployment.
Source: aajtak
According to the
, the unemployment rate for youths aged 15 to 29 in Bihar was 30.9% in 2018-19, significantly higher than the 22.8% from the previous year (2017-18). However, by 2023-24, it reduced to 9.9%, indicating improvement, yet still leaving one in ten youths unemployed.
Government's Skill Programs Spark Hope
To prepare young people for employment, the government launched several skill development initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Jan Shikshan Sansthan, and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. Additionally, digital platforms such as the
have been developed to assist rural youth with information on training centers and courses.
Source: aajtak
Higher Unemployment Among Educated
Are these efforts sufficient? Unemployment chiefly impacts the educated, with only 0.8% of the uneducated population unemployed. Yet, graduate unemployment stands at 14.7%, and those holding postgraduate degrees see unemployment rates as high as 19%.
Even diploma holders and higher secondary graduates face challenges in securing jobs. In Bihar, unemployment has become a significant concern for degree holders, where securing a job post-education is becoming increasingly tough. As elections approach, the focus is on how and when Bihar's employment landscape will evolve.
