NCS Portal Sees Drop in Jobseeker and Employer Registrations in FY26

Registrations on the National Career Service (NCS) portal declined across user groups in FY26, based on data from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, as per news report. The portal is used for job matching and onboarding of employers, jobseekers, and service providers. 

Active jobseeker registrations fell to 8.7 million as of February 28, 2026, from 14.6 million in FY25. Employer participation also declined, with active registered employers dropping 20.4% to 1.4 million from 1.8 million a year earlier. 

Sharp Fall in Intermediaries 

Placement organisations recorded the steepest decline. Registrations fell to 17 in FY26 from 181 in FY25, a drop of over 90%. The category had already been declining from 448 in FY23 and 390 in FY24. 

Skill provider registrations also reduced significantly. Active registrations fell to 273 from 920 in FY25, a decline of more than 70%. This is the lowest level recorded since FY17, after remaining above 500 for several years. 

Government and Counsellor Data 

Registrations from government departments fell 20% to 57 in FY26 from 71 in FY25. The category had peaked at 269 in FY18 and has remained below that level in subsequent years. 

Counsellor registrations have also reduced over time. Active numbers declined from 183 in FY23 to 41 in FY24 and further to 9 in FY25. Data for FY26 was not available. 

Parallel Digital Platforms 

The decline comes alongside expansion of digital initiatives under Digital India. Multiple platforms operate in parallel, including the e-Shram portal and the Skill India Digital Hub. 

The Skill India Digital Hub, launched in September 2023, offers services such as course enrolment, certification and job linkage, with participation from employers and training providers. 

Integration Measures 

A 2023 report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour Textiles and Skill Development highlighted the need to integrate government platforms. The labour ministry has linked NCS with the ASEEM portal and connected it with e-Shram. 

The Union Budget 2022-23 outlined plans to interlink key portals into unified databases to support employment, skilling, and access to services. 

Read More: Govt Proposes ISP To Track Services Output in Formal Sector, Releases Approach Paper! 

Conclusion 

FY26 data shows a broad-based decline in NCS registrations across categories. This has occurred alongside the expansion of multiple digital platforms with overlapping functions. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.   
 
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.