PATNA, July 20 -- As the election approaches in Bihar, all parties across alliances have joined the race of wooing the youths by promising jobs in their own way. After the Bihar cabinet recently gave its nod to create 10 million new jobs and employment opportunities in the state over the next five years by 2030, it is now the turn of the Congress to lure youths. The party organised a day-long Mega Job Fair in the state capital on Saturday. The fair was organised by Indian Youth Congress in which around 190 private companies like Tata Alliance, Flipkart, Zipto, Voltas, Tech Mahindra, Paytm, Aditya Birla, Hitachi, Urban Clap, participated. "About 48,000 youth registered themselves in the job fair, more than 20,000 youth were interviewed, and more than 7,000 youth got job letters on the spot. Along with this, many youth have also been invited for the second round by the HR of the companies," said national president of Indian Youth Congress, Uday Bhanu Chib. "Unemployment in Bihar is not just a figure, it is a long wait .... When the double engine government closed the doors to jobs, the Youth Congress opened the door of hope for the unemployed youth of Bihar. Today Congress stands with the youth who were ignored by the double engine government," said Congress Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru. The IYC had organised a similar Mega Job Fair 2025 at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi on June 19 to mark the birthday of Rahul Gandhi. The state government labour resources department too organised a three-day mega job fair last week in which offer letters were distributed to nearly 4,000 youths. The RJD has not lagged behind with RJD president Lalu Prasad in February promised that people of Bihar would no longer have to migrate to other states for jobs if his party is voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections whereas Tejashwi Yadav, the CM candidate of Mahagathbandhan, has unveiled a 20-point action plan, claiming it will be implemented within the first 20 months of forming government. The action plan, compiled from various platforms, includes promises of employment, reservation, domicile policy, women empowerment, new investments, industries, and direct cash benefits. RJD has put up posters and publicity materials at various locations with these promises. Why job is the focus of parties Bihar's youth, those aged between 18-29, are poised to be the game-changers in the 2025 assembly election. As per voter's list updated in January 2025, nearly 163,99,338 voters (21.3%) of total voters of more than 78 million, fall in this age cohort. In the 2020 assembly elections, youth turnout was around 55%, slightly lower than the state average of 57.05%, but their influence was undeniable. With young voters playing a significant role in this election, the parties have shifted their focus on the creation of jobs and employment opportunities. What's in youth mind Bihar's youngsters aren't swayed by empty rhetoric. Their priorities are clear: jobs, education, and digital connectivity. Unemployment is Bihar's bleeding wound. Over 20% of the state's youth are jobless, and millions migrate to cities like Delhi and Mumbai for work. The 2020 election saw Tejashwi's promise of one million jobs resonate with young voters, and in 2025, every party is upping the ante. From BJP's "Bihar Industrial Hub" pitch to RJD's focus on local employment, jobs are the buzz. According to Bihar Economic Survey Report (2024-25), the unemployment rate in Bihar is around 3.4%, which is slightly higher than the national average of 3.2%, specifically, the youth unemployment rate (ages 15-29) in urban Bihar is 10.8%. Bihar's unemployment rate has generally been declining, it still faces challenges with a higher proportion of self-employment and casual labour. "Bihar's education system is a mixed bag. While literacy rates have climbed to 70.9% (2021 estimates), quality remains a concern. Youth want better colleges, vocational training, and access to competitive exam coaching. Parties are responding - JD(U) is pushing for more ITIs, while Jan Suraaj is promising "education-first" governance," said Gyanendra Yadav, Sociology prof, College of Commerce, Patna....