The reality of unemployment continues to weigh heavily on students and young people across Meghalaya. Each year, colleges and universities send out thousands of graduates who have completed studies in diverse fields, yet many remain jobless. This raises an uncomfortable question: can the state government provide jobs to every educated youth who has completed higher education? The honest answer is no. The number of educated people grows every year, and the gap between available government vacancies and the pool of applicants widens with it.
The future often looks uncertain for school students as well. In Shillong and across rural districts, a single school can have thousands of students. When they leave school and college, they enter a job market where even a degree no longer guarantees employment. Tens of thousands with graduate qualifications remain without work. For every government post advertised, thousands apply. The arithmetic is brutal, and the disappointment it creates runs deep.
Compounding the problem is a paradox. While educated youth struggle for jobs, Meghalaya still lacks skilled professionals in several sectors. Employers, including government agencies and private contractors, often bring in workers from outside the state to fill roles in construction, hospitality, technical trades, and specialized services. This erodes the hopes of local youth and fuels resentment. The shortage is not always one of willingness, but of specific skills, certifications, and experience that match industry standards.
It is unrealistic to expect the government to absorb every job seeker into public service. But the state cannot step away from responsibility. It must create an enabling environment where young people can build livelihoods beyond government jobs. That means formulating policies that open doors to entrepreneurship, self-employment, and private-sector growth. Access to credit, mentorship, incubation support, and market linkages through farmer producer organisations and startup missions can help youth establish businesses and become self-reliant. Welfare schemes must be paired with skilling programmes that are tied to real demand, not just classroom training.
The construction sector offers a clear example. Contractors frequently hire workers from outside Meghalaya because they cannot find enough local youth with the required skills or work pace. It is difficult to ignore the perception that work completed by migrant crews in a day sometimes takes local teams two or three days. Whether this stems from a skill gap, work culture, or lack of modern tools, it must be addressed through targeted vocational training and apprenticeships that emphasize productivity and quality.
Another barrier is attitude. Many young people hesitate to take up what they see as “small” or manual jobs, feeling these roles fall below their qualifications. Yet dignity of labour is the foundation of every strong economy. A first job, however modest, builds discipline, income, and networks. It can be a stepping stone to larger opportunities. Rejecting available work while waiting for an ideal government post only extends unemployment.
The rising presence of migrant workers in Shillong and rural towns is linked to this reluctance. When local youth step back from certain jobs, others step in to fill the need. Later, when migrant numbers grow, criticism is directed at the government for failing to regulate influx. The contradiction is clear: we cannot refuse work and simultaneously resent those who do it.
The path forward requires a shift in mindset and policy. Young people must be willing to take up work of all kinds and invest in skills that match market needs. Educational institutions should integrate vocational modules, soft skills, and internships so graduates leave with employability, not just certificates. The government must expand support schemes that de-risk entrepreneurship, from collateral-free loans to subsidised workspaces and assured procurement for local producers.
Meghalaya’s youth are educated and capable. What they need are pathways, not just promises. A strong work ethic, openness to all forms of dignified work, and demand-driven skilling will reduce dependence on outside labour and keep opportunities within the state. Jobs may be scarce, but opportunity is not fixed. It is created through policy, training, and the willingness to start small and build. Only then can the energy of Meghalaya’s young population become the engine of its growth.
