Youth in Punjab look to greener pastures abroad to make a living Premium

Punjab's youth struggle with unemployment, leading to migration abroad, while demanding government jobs and better opportunities.

Uncertain over securing a suitable job, Ranjandeep Singh, a 22-year-old bachelor of arts graduate in Punjab’s Malout town in Muktsar district has been for the past six months rigorously preparing to clear his language testing exams as he aspires and foresees ‘a better life’ abroad. His concern — similar to many youngsters in Punjab — is the want of suitable employment opportunities, and in the prevailing scenario migrating abroad is Mr. Singh’s topmost preference.

“I am preparing for IELTS (English language proficiency test) exam and shall appear next month. Once I clear it, I intend to go to Canada to study and find a job. I have lost hope of finding a suitable job here. By suitable, I mean a job in which I can live a dignified life. I completed my BA last year (2023). Later, I got a job as a security guard at a local private company in Malout. I was getting a meagre salary for the work, making it difficult for me to assist my family. Also, the long working hours took a toll on my health, after working for two months I left the job. I also worked in the sales wing of a local pesticide company, but with the scanty wages, making ends meet was tough. Finally, I decided to go abroad. I am preparing to go to Canada,” said Mr. Singh, who belongs to a family that owns a 4-5 acre farm land at village Karamgarh.

Close to 150 kilometres away from Malout, on July 28, in Sangrur — the hometown of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann —  under the banner of ‘Punjab Berozgar Sanjha Morcha’ (Punjab Unemployed Joint Front), five outfits of youths, who have been for long seeking government jobs, were up in arms against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the State for its alleged apathy towards their demands. They staged a ‘protest march’ near the Chief Minister’s local residence in Sangrur, even as the protesters were stopped by the Police as they attempted to cross the barricades. Shouting anti-government slogans, the protesters blamed the AAP government for not paying any heed to the plight of “unemployed youth”.

41-year-old Raman Kumar, B.Ed (Bachelor of Education), who cleared his Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test in 2018 is annoyed as his wait for a “secure government job” is still a distant dream. 

Sukhwinder Singh Dhilwan, who has been leading the struggle of these youngsters asserts that even though there are several posts vacant in departments such as health and education, the State government was not recruiting. “We are asking the government to fill up vacant posts of the master cadre of teachers in all subjects and grant age relaxation. Also, the vacant posts of multi-purpose health workers should be advertised and filled. The examination for art and craft teacher recruitment should be conducted among other demands,” he said.

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (January-March 2024) the unemployment rate in Punjab for the age group of 15 years and above (urban areas) stands at 6.8% among men and 10.9% among women. Punjab’s total unemployment rate is 7.7%, which is above the national unemployment rate of 6.7%.

Also read:On unemployment in Indian States