Shillong, Sep 9: Meghalaya is dealing with a serious employment deficit of around 67,500 jobs in the government sector even as the State government has assured that it will address the challenge.
During the second day of the autumn session Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that around 70,000 are eligible for work annually, but the state is only able to offer about 2,000 to 2,500 government jobs.
Currently, recruitment is ongoing for 7,000 vacancies across different departments, he said.
To tackle this challenge, the government is launching a career counselling programme through the Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) that will operate across 34 centres and offer guidance in 25 career sectors, including defence, banking, and engineering. Trained counsellors will help youth explore job options in both government and private sectors.
Leader of the Opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma, supported the initiative but urged the government to focus more on sectors like the armed forces.
The Chief Minister responded saying these areas are already part of the programme. He mentioned that under the state’s ‘Vision 2030’ plan, various sectors have been analysed for job potential and investment needs.
According to him, the tourism sector alone is projected to generate 54,000 jobs over the coming years, supported by growth in the hospitality industry and demand for drivers and support staff.
The government aims to align its career counselling efforts with these future job trends, helping young people build the skills they need to succeed over the next decade, he said.
