Joblessness crisis in KP: 866,000 applicants compete for 16,454 teaching posts

PESHAWAR: The growing unemployment crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been starkly highlighted by the recently held teacher recruitment tests, where a staggering 866,000 candidates competed for just 16,454 vacancies across the province. The KP Education Evaluation and Testing Authority conducted the recruitment written tests for eight different teaching cadres, which include Primary School Teacher (PST), Certified Teacher (CT), Physical Education Teacher (PET), Theology Teacher (TT), Arabic Teacher (AT), Drawing Master (DM), Qari, Quran Teacher (QQT), and Computer and IT Teacher (CT-IT).

The test was held in 25 centres across various districts of KP under strict supervision, yet the overwhelming number of applicants reflects a deeper and more troubling reality — a massive shortage of employment opportunities.

On average, there is competition between more than 52 candidates for each seat, the figures are not only alarming but also symbolic of a system under immense pressure from educated yet jobless youth in KP.

On the other hand, over 6,000 candidates are awaiting interviews at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission, which is currently facing a shortage of members.

Education expert Professor Gulzar Jalal told this correspondent that many candidates hold master’s degrees, while some possess even higher qualifications, yet they are unable to secure teaching jobs at the primary or secondary level — a reflection of the shrinking public sector and stagnation in the private sector. The professor warns that if immediate measures are not taken to expand public sector jobs, investment in skills training and to create new employment avenues, the crisis may spiral further, leading to greater discontent among the population. Gulzar Jalal said the pronounced disparity between KP’s unemployment rate and the national average underscores the province’s unique economic challenges. Factors contributing to this situation may include limited industrial development, security concerns and infrastructural constraints.

“This is the need of the hour that our leadership introduce opportunities for the educated talent. The vitality of the educated class cannot be ignored,” he said

However, one hopeful applicant from Peshawar said this test is our last chance for a secure future, while another expressed frustration at the lack of options for qualified youth.

As of the most recent available data, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had experienced a significant rise in unemployment. According to the 2020-21 labour force survey, the unemployment rate in KP surged to 8.8% from 8.6. This marks one of the highest unemployment rates among the provinces.

As many as 4.5 million individuals are unemployed in the country, with the youth aged 15-24 having the highest unemployment rate of 11.1 per cent, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24.