Job opportunities for minority communities have gone up considerably in the last three years following a two-pronged strategy adopted by the Centre to encourage them take up government jobs as well provide them resources for self-employment.<br/><br/>According to latest figures by the Minority Affairs Ministry, the number of minority community candidates selected for government jobs has risen from 6.9 per cent in 2006-07 to 9.24 per cent in 2008-09.<br/><br/>The report said that a total of 12,182 minority candidates were recruited for government jobs in 2006-07. The following year saw the number marginally increasing to 12,195, which was an increase of 8.32 per cent of the total recruitment, and in 2008-09, the figure<br/>rose to 15,172.<br/><br/>Ministry officials said focus will now be more on creating self-employment opportunities for the community members by extending better credit facilities. <br/>