For thousands of young people across Punjab, securing a government job represents far more than employment. It offers long-term security, social respect and a sense of certainty in an increasingly competitive job market. Over the past few years, the Punjab government has made employment generation a central policy focus, rolling out a large-scale recruitment drive across departments to ensure that deserving candidates are selected through fair and transparent processes.
This sustained push has had a transformative impact on families, particularly in small towns and rural areas, where a single government appointment can alter the economic future of an entire household. Since coming to power, the state government has provided tens of thousands of government jobs, breaking away from the earlier perception of recruitment being driven by favouritism or bribery. Appointments have been made strictly on merit, restoring confidence among young aspirants.
Recruitment has taken place across almost every major department, ranging from clerical and administrative roles to teachers, police personnel, healthcare workers and engineers. The highest number of appointments have been recorded in sectors that directly influence public welfare and governance. The education department has seen large-scale hiring of teachers and support staff, while the health department has recruited doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians to strengthen medical services. Police and home affairs have also witnessed significant recruitment, alongside posts in revenue, public works, power and administrative departments.
Beyond statistics, the recruitment drive has brought visible social change. Across Punjab, there are growing instances of multiple siblings from the same family securing government jobs. In one district, three siblings are employed in different government departments, a development they attribute entirely to hard work and a fair examination system. Another family has three children working in education, health and police services, with their father noting that merit-based selection has completely changed their family’s future.
A major shift under the current administration has been the emphasis on transparency. Recruitment exams, interviews and selection lists are conducted openly, with clear cut-off marks and digital monitoring, eliminating the role of middlemen. This has encouraged thousands of young people to apply with renewed confidence, believing that effort and preparation will determine success.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has repeatedly stressed that Punjab’s youth deserve dignified employment opportunities within the state, rather than being forced to migrate in search of work. He has said the practice of “selling jobs” has ended and that merit alone now governs recruitment. The chief minister has also linked employment generation to tackling broader social challenges such as drug abuse and crime, arguing that stable jobs offer young people direction and security.
The expanding government workforce is already contributing to greater economic stability for families, improved public services in schools and hospitals, and increased trust in governance. With more recruitment planned in the coming months, the government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Punjab’s talent remains in the state and contributes to its development. For many young people, these government jobs are not just careers, but a renewed sense of hope for the future.
