22.10 lakh wait for jobs, only half a lakh hired as Employment Exchanges stand helpless

MALAPPURAM: As the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) faces controversy over alleged examination irregularities and illegal appointments, the state's Employment Exchanges are also struggling to provide jobs to lakhs of registered job seekers.

Official figures show that 22.10 lakh people are currently registered with Employment Exchanges across Kerala and are waiting for employment. However, only 65,228 candidates secured jobs through the system over the past five years.

More than half (14.22 lakh) of the registered job seekers are women. Among those waiting for jobs are 1.08 lakh postgraduate degree holders and more than 20,000 professionals with engineering and medical qualifications. A major reason for the shortage of employment opportunities is the growing practice of government departments, local self-government institutions, and public sector undertakings making temporary appointments independently. Such recruitments are often carried out without adhering to reservation norms and are frequently influenced by political considerations. This is despite a clear directive from the Kerala High Court mandating that all temporary appointments in government institutions be made only through the Employment Exchanges.

The Employment Exchange gives out jobs based on seniority. If two people have the same qualifications, the person who registered first gets the job. The system also follows government reservation rules to give fair chances to disabled individuals, ex-servicemen, and other eligible groups.

Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest number of appointments through Employment Exchanges during the past five years, with 8,525 candidates securing jobs. Of these, 1,062 were appointed to the Education Department, while 1,631 joined the Health Department. Despite having a large number of vacancies, the Local Self-Government Department recruited only 564 candidates through Employment Exchanges. The Public Works Department appointed just 72 people.

In 84 government departments, fewer than ten appointments were made through Employment Exchanges during the period. These include:
Civil Supplies Department - 5
Irrigation Department - 1
Industries Department - 1
Kerala State Beverages Corporation - 4

District-wise employment exchange appointments (January 2021 - March 2026)
District...........................Appointments
Thiruvananthapuram........8,525
Kollam............................3,803
Pathanamthitta...............1,842
Alappuzha.......................3,340
Kottayam........................4,115
Idukki.............................2,105
Ernakulam......................7,420
Thrissur...........................5,612
Palakkad.........................4,890
Malappuram...................3,150
Kozhikode.......................6,240
Wayanad........................1,980
Kannur............................4,921
Kasaragod.......................1,285
Total..............................65,228