When Experience Becomes a Barrier to Employment

An employment is a state where a person has a job and earn for his/her own livelihood and sustain oneself and maintain a certain lifestyle. It is also a state where a person has skill and knowledge and willing to work but is unable to find a job to sustain. Currently, Naga youths are facing chronic unemployment; a situation where unemployment is prolonged due to unstable economic condition in the state, no industries, immobility of workforce where the education system is degree-oriented and not job or skill-oriented.

It is sad to witness fresh graduates and youths who are desperately seeking for a job for their sustainability and livelihood, and with the dreams to lighten the burden of the family, yet, face the cruel reality of the present job opportunity in the state. Thousands of aspirants compete for less than hundred job vacancies in the government sector. But sadly, fulfilling experience requirement becomes a barrier to secure the job criteria.

In a small state like Nagaland, where the population is relatively low and the literacy rate stands at 79.5% (according to the 2011 Census), the workforce participation rate was 49.24%, with 9.74 lakh workers out of a total population of 19.78 lakh (as reported by Morung Express on 20th April 2017). During that period, the unemployment rate in Nagaland was 8.5%, already higher than the national average of 5.0%.

Fast forward to 2024, the situation has worsened. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Nagaland's unemployment rate now hovers above 20% the highest in India. As the state awaits the official figures from the upcoming census covering metrics like population, sex ratio and infant mortality, many people are equally eager to know the updated statistics on literacy and more importantly, the rate of educated unemployed. 

In recent time a recruitment for forest guard was held across Nagaland for 154 forest guard post under the department, according to the official source informed Eastern Mirror that there were 23,673 applications received from 13 districts and a total of 14,960 candidates turned up to collect the admit card (Eastern Mirror, July 7, 2025), out of which only 154 aspirants will be recruited and the rest of 14,806 will be remain unemployed and the 8,713 aspirants who did not collect their admit card maybe they didn’t see hope after seeing the number of applicants. So, totaling 23,519 has remain unemployed for another season. The number seems huge but this number remains just a fraction for the unemployed youths around Nagaland. 

Another example According to Eastern Mirror report, a total of 9,909 eligible candidate competed for 46 constable posts in the state’s Excise Department with the total applicant of 8,426 were male and 1478 were female (Eastern Mirror, July 14, 2024), out of which only 46 aspirants will be recruited and remaining 9,863 will remain unemployed. The magnitude of this situation is very serious than it sounds, a place we are praised for our high literacy rate yet the development and job opportunity remain very low, cruel irony. 

The Government of Nagaland’s efforts to tackle this issue have not been absent. Over the years, various schemes have been launched, including livelihood missions, startup loan programmes, skill development training, and job fairs. NGOs have also stepped in, creating employment opportunities for graduates and skilled youth across various sectors. Yet, the reality remains unchanged for many. These schemes, though well-intentioned, are not always accessible to everyone and not all are inclined to pursue them, whether due to lack of awareness, interest or suitability. 

With each passing year, thousands of individuals complete their education and enter the labor market with hope in their eyes, only to be met with a harsh reality, fresh graduates are rarely hired. To make matters worse, the eligibility criteria for even entry-level jobs have become increasingly demanding. A long list of academic qualifications and skill sets is required, and even when these are met, the biggest obstacle remains, The Experienced!

The Experience Dilemma: In today’s job market, preference is overwhelmingly given to experienced individuals, many of whom already have jobs. This holds true across sectors, government initiatives contractual projects, NGOs and private organisations alike. Young graduates job seekers are often left with no option but to take up unpaid internships, working tirelessly for months just to earn an experience certificate. Ironically, these certificates are frequently not even counted as formal work experience. 

It feels as though the system is designed to reward those who are already employed. Giving preference to people with experience, in a place were getting that experience is nearly impossible, a self-defending cycle that keeps fresh minds out of the workforce. Article 16(1) of the Indian Constitution guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment. However, in practice, even government initiatives that operate on a contractual basis often prefer candidates with years of experience. This effectively bars many young, qualified citizens from accessing these opportunities.

The fresh graduates enter the labour market, fully aware of the unemployment crisis in Nagaland and the challenges educated youth face in securing jobs. However, it wasn’t until we experienced it firsthand that we realised the magnitude of the problem. Rejections became a routine, often with no feedback or explanation. Job advertisements across print, social, and digital media list vacancies from high-level positions to low level position. Yet, even for lower-level posts, the requirement includes specific years of experience. 

But where will the fresh graduate job seekers supposed to gain experience when there are no jobs available in the first place? In a state plagued by rampant unemployment, demanding experience certificates even for mid and low-level jobs feels like a cruel irony. It feels like asking for water as currency in a desert. It is not just an economic concern; it’s a social one. If we continue to ignore the potential of fresh graduates and youth who are eager to contribute, we risk losing an entire generation to frustration and disengagement.

The demand for experience in a state with few job opportunities creates a cycle that keeps fresh graduates out of work and constant rejection without any remarks does discourage and makes us feel doubt in our capabilities. To truly address unemployment, we must create space for young, educated minds to gain experience and not expect them to already have it. 

The educated youth are not short on talent or ambition; what they lack is opportunity. Unless policies and employers start recognising the value of potential over just experience, and unless support schemes become truly inclusive and far-reaching, the state’s unemployment crisis will continue to deepen. A potential solution could be the creation of structured apprenticeship or trainee programmes across both government and private sectors, a program that allow fresh graduates to gain hands-on experience while earning a basic wage. This would help bridge the gap between education and employment, offering real opportunities to learn, grow and eventually contribute meaningfully to the workforce.

In conclusion, the experience paradox in Nagaland is more than just an employment challenge it is a systemic barrier that risks wasting the talents and potential of an entire generation. The state’s educated youth are eager to contribute, but without inclusive opportunities to gain experience, they are trapped in a cycle of rejection. To break this cycle, policies must shift towards valuing potential alongside experience. Structured apprenticeship programmes, paid internships, and trainee positions both in government and private sectors can bridge the gap between academics and employability. Awareness campaigns should ensure that government schemes and skill programmes reach every corner of the state, while the education system must align more closely with market demands. Most importantly, employers need to adopt a mindset that invests in nurturing new talent, not just hiring the already experienced. If we can collectively act on these measures, Nagaland can transform its high literacy rate into a high employment rate, empowering its youth to not just dream, but to achieve, contribute and lead the state towards sustainable growth.

Mhachamo J Ovung