The number of people waiting for government jobs in Tamil Nadu increased to over 5.5 million as on December 31, 2008, according to the Tamil Nadu Employment Exchange. Of these, 25,06,227 are women.

Of the over 900,000 registered with the exchange for government jobs in 2008, only 26,752 got placed. Last year, the number of people registered stood at 973,194.

The previous AIADMK government had put on hold new recruitments, except in departments like police, teachers and medicine. After the DMK government took over, it was decided to fill the vacancies across all departments through the exchange.

According to the 2008-09 policy note, after the DMK-government assumed charge on May 13, 2006, 232,417 vacancies were filled, of which 46,931 candidates were appointed in various posts through the employment exchange.

Of the total number of people registered, 549,433 are graduates, 29,31,862 undergraduates and 431,104 are postgraduates.