Unemployment rate in Nagaland at 9.1% as against national average of 5.2%
Nagaland has been grappling with a persistent non-employment problem that has adversely affected the youth population and hindered the state’s overall progress. The lack of adequate job opportunities has resulted in frustration among the young workforce and has led to huge migration to other states in search of employment.
As per the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PFLS) 2021-22, Nagaland has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country (9.1%), which is higher than the national average of 5.2%.
As of April 2023, over 70,000 job seekers were under state live registration, out of which 18,047 were below matric, 11,914 were of matric level, 11,008 were of class 12 level, 9,219 graduates, 6,503 post-graduates, 1,722 tech degree holders and 507 diploma holders.
Recognising the gravity of the situation, Nagaland Post spoke to advisor Labor, Employment & Skill Development and Excise Moatoshi Longkumer to gather his point of view.
He acknowledged the pressing issue of non-employment in the state and the challenges faced by the youth, and dwelled on the steps being taken by the state government to mitigate the problem. He felt that entrepreneurship and skill development were catalysts for employment resurgence and the most potent means for tackling unemployment in the state.
Championing the ethos of self-reliance and creativity, he asserted that entrepreneurship and skill development training would empower and equip the individuals as these were crucial avenues to tackle the unemployment crisis in the state.
“By cultivating a conducive environment for business startups and training on skill development, the state government was organising fairs in order to provide employment opportunities in private sectors across the country,” he stated.
Skill Development: Moatoshi underscored the pivotal significance of skill development as the linchpin of combating unemployment. He elucidated that merely focusing on conventional academic education fell short of equipping individuals with practical proficiencies demanded by contemporary job market, and thereby stressed on the importance of acquiring skill development for all students.
He claimed that the state government, through collaborative efforts with skill training institutes, academic institutions, and vocational centres, was facilitating training programmes meticulously designed to align with ever-evolving demands of industries, thereby bridging the wide gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
He maintained that such skill enrichment empowered individuals to seize broader array of employment opportunities, leading to self-employment for a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Entrepreneurship: Regarding Entrepreneurship, Moatoshi underscored the critical significance of entrepreneurial endeavours as a potential remedy for addressing the issue of unemployment. He emphasised that cultivating entrepreneurial culture held the potential not only to generate fresh employment opportunities, but also fuel economic advancement within the region.
Reflecting on the prevalence of government employment in the state and the state administration’s efforts to reduce its workforce, he expressed concern about the prevailing trend of Nagas predominantly seeking government jobs and showing reluctance towards exploring alternative paths of income generation.
Clarifying that he did not discourage individuals earnestly pursuing government positions, he lamented the prevalent mindset that perceived government employment as the sole viable income source for Nagas.
Moatoshi elaborated on the global reality of world’s wealthiest individuals predominantly stemming from entrepreneurial ventures rather than government employment. He also highlighted the potential of entrepreneurship in contributing to a family’s financial well-being and self-sustainability.
He encouraged individuals to embark on entrepreneurial journeys. Assuring that the state government was fully committed to tackling the non-employment crisis head-on, the adviser claimed that it was working in collaboration with various stakeholders, including training institutions, industries, and vocational training centres to create comprehensive ecosystem that fosters employment and entrepreneurship.