Nagaland is grappling with a critical issue of youth unemployment, as highlighted by a recent study authored by Avibou Nagi and Dr. Besii Kholi. Titled “A Study on Youth Unemployment in Nagaland: Employment Prospects and Opportunities,” the research sheds light on the state’s alarming unemployment rates and provides insight into the obstacles that places like Mokokchung face.
As a major urban center in Nagaland, Mokokchung has immense potential to become a model for tackling these challenges through targeted interventions.
The study underscores several contributing factors to the unemployment crisis. A significant issue is the skills gap among local youth, which results in heavy reliance on non-local workers for skilled jobs.
Despite efforts to promote vocational training, the programs currently in place, such as those offered by the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), are insufficient to meet the state’s growing labor demands. Mokokchung, which boasts a relatively strong academic culture historically, should prioritize further expanding skill-development programs in sectors like construction, plumbing, and electrical work to reduce this gap.
Another major concern is the state’s over-reliance on government jobs. The study highlights how more than 123,000 people are employed in government positions, surpassing the actual requirement and creating an unhealthy dependency. In places like Mokokchung, this dependency stifles entrepreneurial spirit, as youth are often conditioned to view government jobs as the only path to success. Instead, there should be a shift toward promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment, particularly in emerging sectors such as tourism, food processing, and textiles.
The lack of industrial growth also plays a significant role. Nagaland’s industrial backwardness, due to commonly known factors like poor infrastructure and misgovernance, limits opportunities for local employment. However, Mokokchung, with its growing commercial sector, can lead the charge by encouraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and attracting investment in industries like agro-based manufacturing and small-scale enterprises. These ventures would not only generate jobs but also diversify the local economy.
One key takeaway from the study is the untapped potential in the IT sector. Mokokchung, which has a significantly large youthful population, should focus on developing IT-enabled services, such as business process outsourcing (BPO) and digital marketing. These sectors can provide immediate job opportunities to a tech-savvy younger generation. Skill development and entrepreneurship are perhaps the only means through which Mokokchung can be a beacon of hope in solving the state’s youth unemployment crisis.
The need of the hour is a collaborative effort from the government, private sector, the community, and thought leaders to realize this vision.