Patna: Nearly 8,000 candidates, including NET qualifiers and PhD holders from across the country, appeared for interviews in Patna last week for 2,532 contractual assistant professor posts, highlighting the growing scarcity of stable jobs for highly educated youth.The shortlisted candidates underwent interviews and teaching ability tests conducted by the Bihar State University Service Commission (BSUSC) at three centres in the city from Monday to Sunday.Sources said nearly 8,000 applicants were called for interviews, with around one-third coming from outside Bihar. Candidates travelled from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and other states despite the absence of job security and the possibility of postings in remote rural blocks.Subject experts associated with the interview process said many candidates from outside Bihar possessed impressive academic credentials and performed well during the interviews. However, they expressed doubt over whether some of them would eventually join if posted in far-flung areas.BSUSC chairman Girish Kumar Choudhary said the commission is recruiting 2,532 assistant professors on contract for 211 degree colleges opened at the block level across the state. The appointments are being made in six subjects, including sociology, economics, political science, Hindi and English.Educationists and social scientists said the overwhelming response reflects the shrinking employment opportunities available to highly qualified youth. They noted that candidates who spent years earning doctorates and clearing national-level eligibility tests are now competing for temporary positions with uncertain career prospects, often far from their home states.Economist Nawal Kishore Chaudhary said educated unemployment has existed for years but has worsened significantly over the past decade. Citing Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, he said as per the PLFS annual report 2025, the unemployment rate among youth aged 15-29 years was 9.9%, while the rate among urban youth was 13.6%.“These figures are alarming, especially when seen alongside rising enrolment in higher education and continued public investment in skill development programmes,” Chaudhary said.However, experts say the rush of NET-qualified and PhD candidates for temporary teaching positions reflects the continuing shortage of stable, high-quality jobs for highly educated youths.basant.pu@gmail.com
