By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 9: Meghalaya is staring at a massive employment gap, with nearly 67,500 government jobs falling short of demand.
This was revealed during the question hour of the State Assembly when Chief Minister explained that while close to 70,000 young people become eligible to enter the workforce every year, the state can accommodate only around 2,000 to 2,500 of them in government posts, leaving a yawning deficit.
He noted that recruitment is currently under way for about 7,000 existing vacancies across departments.
Unveiling the government’s strategy to tackle the challenge, Sangma said a career counselling programme will serve as the backbone of the state’s employment plan.
Spread across 34 centres under the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS), the initiative will deploy trained counsellors to guide youth in 25 identified sectors, including defence, banking, engineering and others.
The chief minister maintained that the idea is to prepare young people with the skills needed to compete for both government and private-sector jobs.
Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma backed the move but urged the government to ensure focused support for specific avenues such as defence and armed forces recruitment. In response, the Chief Minister assured that these areas are being given due emphasis under the programme.
Looking to the future, Sangma said job potential has been mapped under Vision 2030, identifying sector-wise employment prospects and investment requirements.
He pointed out that tourism alone is expected to generate nearly 54,000 jobs, with opportunities ranging from hospitality roles in five-star hotels to demand for drivers and service staff.
He stressed that the government, in partnership with MSSDS, has broken down employment needs department-wise and will align career counselling to prepare youth for the next decade of opportunities.