Degrees in hand, jobs out of reach
Srinagar, Jan 30: A college degree is no longer a passport to employment.
As job opportunities shrink and competition intensifies, graduates are being forced to rethink how they prepare for an increasingly demanding job market—one that values practical skills as much as, if not more than, academic credentials.
With limited vacancies and a growing pool of applicants, employers are raising their expectations, favouring candidates who can demonstrate immediate job readiness over those with strong academic records alone.
Safhan Saleem, a graduate from Srinagar, said he enrolled in an IT course after completing his degree, realising that academic qualifications by themselves were not enough to secure employment. “Nowadays, having only a degree is not enough,” he said.
Employers, graduates say, are increasingly focused on practical competencies alongside formal education. During interviews, candidates are often assessed on abilities such as basic coding, design, communication and other job-specific skills—considered stronger indicators of workplace readiness than marks alone.
This shift is reflected in national employment data. According to the India Employment Report 2024 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute for Human Development, two out of every three unemployed persons in the country are young graduates. The report also shows that unemployment rates in many northern and southern states remain above the national average.
Figures from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) indicate that while unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir declined from 6.7 per cent in 2019–20 to 4.4 per cent in 2022–23, it rose again to 6.1 per cent in 2023–24.
For many graduates, the figures translate into lived experience. Safhan said the situation underlines the urgent need for greater practical exposure within educational institutions. “Only theory is not enough. Students need internships, workshops and proper career guidance to be prepared for the job market,” he said.
Arwa, a postgraduate, echoed this sentiment. “After completing my master’s, I thought I would easily get a job. But when I applied, I realised I lacked many important skills,” she said. “Despite good grades, I struggled to find suitable work, which made me understand that practical skills matter more than marks.”
Educators, however, point to deeper structural challenges. Inhas Ashraf, a faculty member at Government Polytechnic College, Gogji Bagh, said employment opportunities remain limited due to a small industrial base and restricted private-sector growth. “Formal degree education alone is no longer sufficient, especially with intense competition for government jobs,” she said.
Ashraf added that many graduates leave college without strong communication skills or exposure to professional work environments. Improving digital literacy and strengthening collaboration between academic institutions and industry, she said, could help bridge the gap between education and employment.
As the job market continues to evolve, one message is becoming increasingly clear: in today’s economy, degrees may open doors, but it is skills that decide who gets hired—and who gets left behind.
By: Faria Bhat
