Srinagar, Nov 13: Jammu and Kashmir recorded an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent during July-September 2026, nearly twice the national average of 5.1 percent, while unemployment among young…
Srinagar, Nov 13: Jammu and Kashmir recorded an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent during July-September 2026, nearly twice the national average of 5.1 percent, while unemployment among young people aged 15-29 stood at 26.2 percent, highlighting the continuing employment challenge in the Union Territory, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
The Quarterly Bulletin of the PLFS for July-September 2026, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, shows that unemployment in J&K remains considerably higher than the national average across both rural and urban areas, with women and young people facing a particularly difficult situation in the labour market. The unemployment rate among persons aged 15 years and above in J&K stood at 9.4 percent, against 5.1 percent at the all-India level.
The gap was particularly pronounced in urban areas, where the rate reached 14.1 percent, compared with 8.3 percent in rural areas. The gender-wise figures reveal an equally sharp disparity. Female unemployment in J&K stood at 14 percent, more than twice the male unemployment rate of 6.6 percent. In rural areas, unemployment among women was 11.5 percent against 6.2 per cent among men. In urban areas, the gap widened substantially, with female unemployment reaching 31.3 percent compared with 8.2 percent among men. The situation is particularly concerning among the youth.
The unemployment rate for the 15-29 age group was 26.2 percent in J&K, against the national average of 15.3 percent. The rate was 24.3 percent in rural areas and 35.8 percent in urban areas. Among young women, unemployment stood at 38 per cent across rural and urban areas, compared with 19.4 percent among young men. The urban gender gap was especially pronounced. Unemployment among urban women aged 15-29 reached 65.3 percent, against 24.4 percent among urban men. In rural areas, the corresponding rates were 34 percent for women and 18.3 percent for men.
The figures indicate that the employment challenge is not confined to the overall availability of jobs but is also marked by significant differences across gender, age and location. Despite the high unemployment rate, J&K recorded a Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 60.5 percent among persons aged 15 years and above, higher than the national average of 55.5 percent. The LFPR measures the proportion of the population that is either employed or seeking and available for work.
This is a source-linked briefing. Read the original report from Greater Kashmir .