Kashmir's Job Crisis Is Not A Failure Of Its Young Graduates

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) By Mehak Safder

Life feels clear and full of promise for many young people in Kashmir while they remain inside colleges and universities, where days follow a pattern that makes sense.

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Classes and campuses drive routines, exams offer direction, and encouragement from teachers slowly builds confidence.

At home, families speak with pride, neighbours talk about potential, and effort feels noticed and rewarded.

During these years, a student lives inside an academic bubble that offers purpose, belonging, and the comfort of believing that hard work will naturally lead somewhere secure.

That feeling changes once college ends.

Degrees come home, celebrations fade, and the outside world feels uncertain. Job openings appear rarely, interviews remain out of reach, and competition feels overwhelming.

This shift feels sharper in a region that has the highest level of joblessness in the country.

A young graduate who once felt valued now meets long waiting periods and empty inboxes. Confidence begins to shake, even though ability and effort remain strong.

Read Also Working To Bring J&K Youth Into National Mainstream: MoS J&K Unemployment At 6.7%, Nearly Double National Average

The responsibility for this gap does not sit with young people alone.

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Education celebrates success inside classrooms, where praise comes easily, while real opportunities remain limited once students step outside.

Society now faces a simple truth and a shared task to accept it and build paths that truly match the years of study and effort students have already given.

Ordinary moments at home reveal how deeply this struggle touches families.

Young people study late into the night for exams linked with stability. Others refresh job portals many times a day, hoping to see fresh listings. Some return from interviews and choose gentle words at home, aiming to protect parents from worry.

These talks are filled with pressure and the constant question of what comes next.

Waiting for jobs affects an entire generation. Many young people start to measure their value by selection lists or salaries. Success feels like relief and pride, while rejection brings doubt and disappointment.

This thinking hides a simple truth: talent is still there, and hard work keeps building, even if success takes time.

Hard work shows itself everywhere in the valley. Students travel long distances for coaching classes and return home late. Power cuts turn study hours into tests of patience as books remain open under dim lights. Degree holders take small jobs or help behind shop counters, guided by care for their families and a strong sense of responsibility.

Some move to other towns and cities, live alone, and accept whatever work appears so parents and siblings can live with comfort and pride.

These choices show real strength and dedication, even when few people notice.

But long periods of waiting slowly wear down confidence. Months turn into years, and hope starts to fade.

Some young people pull away from others, while sadness grows heavier for some. A few turn to harmful habits or the wrong company, thinking it will make the pressure easier to bear.

Experience shows that short-term escape only makes things harder, affecting health, worrying families, and closing doors that once seemed open.

Kashmir's young generation deserves a wider understanding of success. The valley holds sharp minds, creative thinkers, and workers ready to learn and adapt. Many already build skills online, start small ventures, or prepare again after disappointment while supporting their households.

Rising after setbacks builds character, and this strength appears daily in small efforts.

Society has a big role in deciding what happens next. Success is not only found in government offices or big buildings. Any honest work that helps a family and builds self-respect matters.

Families should give their children strength through patience. Constant comparisons can hurt confidence, while trust and encouragement bring it back.

A few kind words at the right time can make a lasting difference.

Young people need understanding and support. They carry the hopes of the valley and the promise of its future.

Paths in teaching, public service, business, art, and leadership stay open when they keep believing in themselves, even through hard times.

Job delays mark a stage of life rather than a final judgment. Progress may move slowly and still move forward. Effort invested today determines opportunity tomorrow.

Persistence opens doors, while shortcuts place futures at risk.

As this generation steps out of academic comfort and into a demanding world, clarity and action matter.

The struggle shows a shortage of opportunity rather than a lack of ambition. Families, institutions, and leaders carry the responsibility to build systems that honour effort with real chances.

The young people facing struggle today hold the promise of tomorrow.

Kashmir's true strength lies in determination, in caring for family, and in the courage to keep dreaming.

When that spirit stays alive, the valley's future is full of promise and hope.

• The author can be reached at [email protected]

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