Pakistan is grappling with its most severe unemployment crisis in over two decades, with official statistics revealing alarming trends that threaten both economic stability and national security.
Record-Breaking Unemployment Figures
The latest data shows that more than 7.1% of Pakistan's population is currently unemployed, marking one of the highest unemployment rates recorded in the past 21 years. This staggering statistic confirms that constrained economic growth is primarily responsible for this growing societal problem.
According to a new Labour Force Survey, the situation is particularly dire for educated youth. The survey reveals that more than one million degree holders between the ages of 15 and 29 are without employment. This represents a critical failure in the country's growth paradigm that impacts social mobility and undermines youth confidence in Pakistan's future.
The Education Paradox and Structural Issues
The unemployment puzzle becomes even more complex when examining literacy rates among the jobless. Out of the total 5.9 million unemployed people in Pakistan, 4.6 million (77.5%) are literate, indicating that education alone is not solving the employment crisis.
Young graduates face multiple barriers to entering civil service, including substandard education quality and parochialism within state institutions. With the services industry serving as the largest employer, intense competition leaves many qualified individuals facing structural unemployment, forcing them to rely on part-time jobs for survival.
Regional Disparities and Security Concerns
The report highlights significant regional variations in unemployment rates. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has the highest unemployed population, followed by Punjab, the country's most populous province. This distribution raises serious concerns about national security and social cohesion.
In K-P, which has long been a theater of terrorism and conflict, high unemployment poses a direct threat to national security. Similarly, in Punjab, simmering unrest caused by joblessness could fracture national unity and stability.
Perhaps most concerning is the revelation that from Pakistan's 180 million working-age population, 118 million are classified as unpaid employees engaged in minor, informal jobs. This indicates widespread underemployment and economic vulnerability.
Government Response and Contributing Factors
The federal minister for planning has pointed to climate change and IMF pressure tactics as primary culprits behind the employment crisis. Floods, inclement weather conditions, and low agrarian productivity have significantly hampered economic progress, while dipping exports and deindustrialization have compounded the problem.
While stringent IMF conditionalities share some blame for the current situation, government officials and policymakers must also accept responsibility for failing to create adequate employment opportunities and implement effective economic reforms.
