Jammu and Kashmir recorded an unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent in the July–September 2025 quarter, higher than the all-India average of 5.2 per cent, according to official data tabled in Parliament. The figures were shared in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, offering a detailed snapshot of labour market trends in the Union Territory compared with the rest of the country.
The data was provided by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in reply to an unstarred question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar P. The written reply was given by Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Planning, and Culture, on December 15, 2025.
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin for July to September 2025, the overall unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir for persons aged 15 years and above stood at 6.1 per cent under the Current Weekly Status framework. This was notably higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent for the same period. The gap was sharper in urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir, where unemployment touched 10.6 per cent, compared with a rural unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent. At the all-India level, urban unemployment stood at 6.9 per cent, while rural unemployment was lower at 4.4 per cent.
The gender-wise data highlighted deeper stress among women in Jammu and Kashmir’s labour market. Female unemployment in urban areas of the Union Territory was reported at a high 20.8 per cent, while the combined rural and urban female unemployment rate stood at 8.7 per cent. Male unemployment across rural and urban areas in Jammu and Kashmir was comparatively lower at 4.6 per cent, though still close to the national male average of 5.2 per cent.
Alongside unemployment, the government also placed data on labour force participation and employment levels. Jammu and Kashmir’s Labour Force Participation Rate for persons aged 15 years and above was reported at 61.0 per cent, higher than the all-India average of 55.1 per cent. This indicates that a larger share of the working-age population in the Union Territory was either employed or actively seeking work. The Worker Population Ratio, which reflects the proportion of employed persons in the population, stood at 57.3 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir, again above the national average of 52.2 per cent.
In his reply, the minister said the employment and unemployment estimates were based on the Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. He explained that the survey captures key indicators such as Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio and Unemployment Rate using internationally comparable definitions.
Rao Inderjit Singh also informed the House that the Ministry of Labour and Employment operates the National Career Service portal, a digital platform that connects job seekers with employers across the public and private sectors. As of November 20, 2025, more than 6.02 crore job seekers and over 54.27 lakh employers had registered on the portal since its inception, he said.
The data underscores the structural challenge facing Jammu and Kashmir, where labour force participation remains relatively high but job creation has not kept pace, particularly in urban areas and among women. The figures, sourced from the PLFS Quarterly Bulletin for July–September 2025, provide one of the most current official assessments of employment trends in the Union Territory and across India. (Kashmir Life)
