Over 12 Lakh Jobless Youths Await Employment in Odisha, Government Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: A staggering 12.13 lakh unemployed youths in Odisha are currently awaiting jobs, according to the state government’s report presented in the Assembly on Friday. The youths have registered themselves with various employment exchanges in the state over the past five years, highlighting the growing employment challenges in Odisha.

In a written reply to BJD MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain provided details on the job seekers. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, a total of 12,13,924 youths registered with employment exchanges, with the aspirants spanning various educational backgrounds. This includes 3.19 lakh graduates, 51,956 postgraduates, 4.22 lakh intermediates, 1.80 lakh matriculates, and 42,916 diploma pass-outs. Additionally, 74,827 trained teachers, 33,691 ITI pass-outs, and 14,750 under-matric students are also part of the unemployed youth population.

The list also includes 836 medical postgraduates and 2 medical graduates who are still awaiting job opportunities in the state, further highlighting the unemployment crisis.

Minister Swain informed the House that despite the significant number of job seekers, the state government has only been able to provide employment to 2,274 youths through employment exchanges in the last five years.

In a related statement, Swain revealed that the state government has made efforts to address the issue through various skill development programs. Over the past five years, 36,329 youths have been trained under the placement-linked training program, with 15,068 securing employment. Furthermore, under the Chief Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (CMEGP), over 18.42 lakh youths have been made self-employable from 2014-15 to 2023-24, providing them with skills to start their own businesses.

While these initiatives are helping some youth find employment, the large number of job seekers remains a pressing concern for the state government. The information has drawn attention to the urgent need for increased job creation and more efficient skill development programs to meet the growing demand for employment in Odisha.