Shillong, Sept 9: The state government sector can provide only around 2500 jobs out of the 70,000 youth who are eligible to join the workforce every year.
This means that around 67,500 eligible persons are deprived of jobs..
This was informed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in reply to a question by Matthew B Kurbah in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The chief minister, however, said the state government is coming up with a holistic plan to address the issue.
“There is a deficit of around 67,500 jobs which is why the government is coming up with a holistic plan to cater to the 70,000 youth eligible to join the workforce,” he said .
Conrad said there are 7000 vacancies in the government sector for which recruitment process is going on.
To address the deficit, the chief minister said that the career counselling programme is part of this larger plan, which aims to provide guidance and support to youth in 25 identified domains that included defence services, banking, engineering, and more.
The chief minister said the career counselling programme is a structured approach, with the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) acting as the nodal agency. The programme will be implemented through 34 counselling centres, where trained career advisers will provide guidance and counselling to youth.
The objective is to enable youth to take advantage of job opportunities in both the government and private sectors.
Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma appreciated the initiative but emphasized the need for handholding in preparation for specific jobs, particularly in defence and army services.
The chief minister assured that the programme is designed to address these needs and provide youth with the necessary guidance and support.
Conrad revealed that the state government has mapped out job opportunities in various sectors as part of its Vision 2030.
“The government has identified the kind of job opportunities expected in each sector and the investment required to achieve these goals,” he added.
Conrad said the tourism sector is expected to create around 54,000 jobs, driven by the anticipated growth of five-star hotels and the increasing demand for drivers and other support staff.
He added that the government has broken down job requirements in every department.
The government has partnered with MSSDS to provide career counselling to youth, with a rough idea of the jobs required by the state in the next 10 years.
This initiative aims to equip youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to take advantage of emerging job opportunities.
