Since its launch in August 2022, the Punjab Job Centre has become a lifeline for many across the province. According to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), the platform has so far connected over 1.3 million job seekers with more than 105,000 employers—both from the public and private sectors.
The online portal, developed in collaboration with the Punjab Labour and Human Resource Department, aims to make job hunting easier and more transparent. Whether you’re a fresh graduate or a skilled professional, the system allows individuals to register, build profiles, and link directly with employers and recruitment agencies.
PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf said the initiative was designed to promote fair and inclusive employment. “The goal is simple: to ensure merit-based hiring and give businesses access to qualified, verified talent,” he shared.
While platforms like these are helping close the employment gap in Punjab, the broader national picture remains a challenge. Pakistan still lacks updated labour statistics. The latest Economic Survey (2024–25) referred to outdated figures from the 2020–21 Labour Force Survey, which listed unemployment at 6.3%. Officials say the delay in new data is due to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ involvement in the 7th Population and Housing Census.
However, preliminary census data offers a glimpse into the employment landscape. Out of Pakistan’s 241.4 million population, an estimated 18.7 million people are unemployed—roughly 7.8%. Among the working-age population (171.7 million), unemployment is closer to 11%.
Youth unemployment is particularly troubling. Around 6.2 million people aged 15–24, 6.4 million aged 25–40, and 3.4 million aged 41–60 are currently without work—highlighting the urgent need for job creation, skills training, and targeted policy solutions.
With the Punjab Job Centre making strides at the provincial level, the hope is that similar efforts can be scaled nationally to better match people with the opportunities they deserve.
