Kohima: Nagaland is struggling with a massive disconnect between its classrooms and the workforce. A 2025 report shows 78 percent of workers in the state have no prior experience. Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen highlighted these figures at a recent seminar in Kohima. Jobs are scarce. Government recruitment via the NSSB and NPSC dropped from 845 in 2024 to 589 in 2025.
The state unemployment rate sits at 7.3 percent, double the national average of 3.5 percent. For residents aged 15 to 29, the situation is worse, with unemployment at 17.5 percent compared to 9.9 percent nationally. Imchen noted that 92 percent of residents lack formal vocational or technical training. He explained the historic preference for academic degrees over trade skills created this bottleneck.
"The state was facing a paradox where many university graduates possess theoretical knowledge but remain unemployed due to a lack of practical skills required by employers," Imchen said. Education no longer guarantees a paycheck.
Institutions are now under pressure to adapt. Nagaland University plans to inject AI components into postgraduate and doctoral programs by the 2026-2027 academic year. Prof. Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Medziphema Campus, urged colleges to integrate AI across all disciplines rather than isolating it in computer science. He also pushed for short-term certificate courses and the use of the SWAYAM online learning platform.
The seminar covered technical paths in green energy, agriculture, cybersecurity, and medical technologies. Officials proposed faculty sharing and hybrid learning to bypass local infrastructure limits. Students are being encouraged to pivot toward international fellowships and entrepreneurship as traditional government roles reach a saturation point.
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