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. Temporary appointments in government departments, local self-government institutions, and public sector organisations in violation of the reservation system have become a major setback. Direct recruitment by government departments is also influenced by political interests. The Kerala High Court has issued a strict directive stating that temporary appointments in government and semi-government departments must be made only through Employment Exchanges.

Appointments through Employment Exchanges are based on seniority. Among candidates with the same qualifications, those who registered earlier are given priority. The recruitment process also follows the government's reservation policy and provides special preference to persons with disabilities, ex-servicemen, and other eligible categories.

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