It comes as shocking news to know that the state with the highest literacy rate is also the state with the highest unemployment rate. Kerala, located in the south of India, recorded the highest literacy rate that 74.04 per cent which was more than the average literacy rate of the entire country combined.
According to the statistics of the state government, more than 36 lakhs individuals are unemployed in Kerala, which includes medical and engineering graduates. The number of unemployed engineering graduates has seen a steady increase in the figure. The average unemployment rate is 6.1 per cent, while Kerala’s unemployment rate is 9.43 per cent.
What was more surprising was the fact that even the professional graduates remained unemployed in Kerala with including 7,303 doctors, more than 40,000 engineers and roughly 6400 MBA graduates.
This information was brought to light by labour minister TP Ramakrishnan in the Assembly. Earlier in April 2019, the leaked preliminary report pegged national unemployment at 6.1 per cent, which was the highest rate in the last 45 years.
Among the different jobless youth, there are 3,31,192 – degree holders and 94,590 post advanced education holders. As per the reports from the employment exchange of the state, 36,25,852 individuals are staying as jobless, said the labour minister in the Assembly. In the national scene, Sikkim (18.1%) and Tripura (19.7%) are the leading two states which are above Kerala as far as joblessness is concerned.
The question is raised at the government that why it had not taken initiatives to develop the manufacturing and service industry strong in this state who is sustaining itself barely on the tourism industry.
In 2019 government stated reasons like high population density, lack of space for industries, no availability of raw materials and a decrease in acres of farmland for high levels of unemployment in Kerala.
Another reason could be the fact that the government has not been able to provide highly skilled youth with the jobs they are demanding due to the lack of presence of major industries. As compared to other states, women labourers are low in Kerala since many women are involved in private sector jobs.
This also explains why there is a high NRA population in Kerala, as lack of employment opportunities drive people to search for a job outside the state and country.
Though the question still rests that what will the government do to confront the current dynamics of Kerala situation. Keralites can now only hope that this will open the eyes of the state government in creating more job opportunities.
