1.

Introduction

Mahatma Gandhi's Perspective: Critiques the

obsession with "labour-saving machinery,"
emphasizing the negative impact on employment
and societal well-being. This raises concerns
about the displacement of workers.

Modern Work Context:

Diverse employment settings: farms, factories,

banks, shops, and homes.

Shift to home-based work: Notable during the

COVID-19 pandemic (2020-21).

Importance of work for personal identity and

societal contribution.
2. Understanding Employment and Workers

Definition of Employment: Engaging in economic

activities that contribute to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).

Worker Definition: Includes anyone engaged in

economic activities, regardless of pay status
(employed, self-employed, casual workers).

Economic Activities:

Examples: Farming, manufacturing,

transportation.
Contributes to Gross National Product (GNP),
considering imports and exports.

3. Employment Landscape in India

Workforce Statistics:

As of 2017-18, India had approximately 471

million workers.

Rural workforce constitutes about two-thirds of

this total.
Gender disparity: 77% male workforce; women
represent 25% of rural and 20% of urban workers.

Nature of Women's Work:

Many women perform unpaid labor (cooking,

fetching water, farm work).

Often not recognized in employment statistics,

leading to underestimation of female workforce
contributions.

4. Worker-Population Ratio
Importance: Indicates the proportion of the
population engaged in economic activities.

Higher ratios signal greater engagement; lower

ratios indicate underutilization of workforce.

Calculation:

Formula: (Total number of workers / Total

population) x 100.

Current Ratios (2017-18 data):

Overall: 34.7% (35% in rural areas, 33.9% in

urban areas).
Notable differences: Limited economic
opportunities in rural settings versus more
diverse urban job markets.

5. Barriers to Employment

Social and Economic Factors:

Gender roles and societal expectations

discourage women's participation, especially in
urban areas.

Educational disparities limit employment

opportunities.
Recognition of Women's Contributions:

Need for broader definitions of economic activity

to include unpaid domestic work.

6. Self-Employed vs. Hired Workers

Self-Employment: Accounts for over 50% of the

workforce, significant for both genders.

Casual Wage Work: Second major employment

source, often associated with less job security.
7. Conclusion

Understanding the complexities of employment

in India is crucial for addressing social issues like
exploitation and inequality.

Recognizing all forms of work—paid and

unpaid—can lead to better policies and support
for marginalized groups, particularly women in
the workforce.

Discussion Points

Reflect on why many skilled women remain

unemployed despite having qualifications.
Consider how societal norms impact women's
employment opportunities.

Discuss strategies to recognize and integrate

unpaid work into economic assessments.

Detailed Lecture Notes on Employment Structure

and Trends in India

1. Employment Distribution by Gender and Type

Regular Employment:

Men: 23% engaged in regular salaried jobs.

Women: 21% engaged in regular salaried jobs.

Gender Gap: The gap in regular employment is
minimal, indicating a gradual shift towards more
equitable employment opportunities.

Self-Employment vs. Casual Wage Labor:

Rural Areas: Higher prevalence of self-employed

and casual wage laborers. Many rural workers
depend on agriculture, owning small plots of
land.

Urban Areas: More opportunities for regular

salaried jobs and self-employment, reflecting a
diverse job market.
2. Categories of Employment

Types of Workers:

Self-Employed: E.g., a saloon owner or a

handloom weaver.

Regular Salaried Employees: E.g., cashier in a

bank, nurse with a stable monthly salary.

Casual Wage Laborers: E.g., daily wage workers

in rice mills or loading jobs. This group is often
the most vulnerable due to lack of job security.

Activity Example: Classify various occupations

into self-employed, regular salaried employees,
and casual wage laborers:
1. Owner of a saloon (Self-employed)

2. Worker in a rice mill (Regular employee)

3. Cashier in a bank (Regular employee)

4. Typist on daily wage (Casual laborer)

5. Handloom weaver (Self-employed)

6. Loading worker (Casual laborer)

7. Owner of a cold drinks shop (Self-employed)

8. Nurse in a private hospital (Regular employee)

3. Employment Trends in India

Shift in Employment from Agriculture:

Economic development sees labor moving from

agriculture to industry and services.
Urbanization leads to migration of workers
seeking better job prospects.

Industry Distribution (2017-2018):

Primary Sector: 59.8% rural, 6.6% urban—

dominant in rural areas.

Secondary Sector: 20.4% rural, 34.3% urban—

growing in urban settings.

Tertiary Sector: 19.8% rural, 59.1% urban—key

area for urban employment.
Table Summary: Distribution of workforce
highlights that:

Majority of rural workers rely on agriculture, while

urban workers primarily engage in services.

4. Changing Structure of Employment

Historical Context:

From 1972-73 to 2011-12, reliance on the primary

sector dropped from 74% to 50%.

Secondary and service sectors are growing,

indicating diversification of the workforce.
Economic Indicators:

GDP Growth vs. Employment Growth: Over

decades, GDP has grown faster than
employment. This leads to "jobless growth,"
where economic output increases without a
corresponding rise in job creation.

5. Implications of Employment Trends

Vulnerability of Casual Workers: Casual wage

laborers often lack job security and benefits,
making them more susceptible to economic
fluctuations.
Quality of Employment: Indicators include job
stability, wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Self-employed individuals may earn more but
often lack security and benefits compared to
regular employees.

Discussion Points

Explore the implications of jobless growth on the

Indian economy.

Analyze the factors contributing to the

underrepresentation of women in the workforce.
Discuss the potential for growth in secondary and
tertiary sectors and its impact on rural
employment.

Conclusion

Understanding the dynamics of employment in

India—its distribution, shifts, and challenges—
provides insight into the broader economic and
social landscape. Addressing these issues is
crucial for creating equitable and sustainable
employment opportunities for all segments of the
population.

Final Review:-
Detailed Explanations on Employment Trends in
India (1972-2018)
1. Overview of Employment Trends

The employment landscape in India has

undergone significant transformations from 1972
to 2018. Analyzing the changes across different
sectors provides insight into economic
development and labor dynamics.

1.1 Sector-wise Employment Distribution

Primary Sector:

Definition: Includes agriculture, forestry, fishing,

and mining.

Trend:
1972-73: 74.3% of the workforce was engaged in
the primary sector, reflecting India’s agrarian
economy.

2017-2018: This dropped to 44.6%, highlighting a

shift away from agriculture as the primary source
of employment.

Implication: The decline indicates urbanization

and a transition towards industrialization and
service-oriented jobs, as people migrate to cities
for better opportunities.

Secondary Sector:
Definition: Encompasses manufacturing,
construction, and industrial activities.

Trend:

1972-73: Only 10.9% of the workforce was in the

secondary sector.

2017-2018: This increased to 24.4%, indicating

growth in manufacturing and industrial jobs.

Implication: The increase suggests successful

industrial policies and a move towards a more
diversified economy that can provide jobs outside
agriculture.
Service Sector:

Definition: Comprises services such as retail,

healthcare, education, and IT.

Trend:

1972-73: 14.8% of workers were in services.

2017-2018: This rose to 31.0%, reflecting the

increasing importance of the service industry.

Implication: The growth of services is a sign of

economic advancement, with technology and
globalization playing crucial roles.
1.2 Sector-wise Employment Data

2. Status-wise Employment Distribution

Self-Employed:

Definition: Individuals working for themselves,

such as farmers, artisans, and small business
owners.

Trend:

1972-73: 61.4% of the workforce.

2017-2018: Slight decline to 52.2%.

Implication: While self-employment remains
significant, it indicates a potential challenge in
transitioning to more formal employment
opportunities.

Regular Salaried Employees:

Definition: Individuals employed with a fixed

salary and benefits.

Trend:

1972-73: 15.4% engaged in regular employment.

2017-2018: Increased to 22.8%, demonstrating a
move toward formalized job structures.

Implication: This growth suggests improved

economic conditions and increased investment
in education and skills.

Casual Wage Laborers:

Definition: Individuals employed on a temporary

basis, often in manual labor without job security.

Trend:

1972-73: 23.2% of workers.

2017-2018: Decreased to 25.0% after peaking in
1993-94.

Implication: The fluctuation indicates the

precarious nature of employment for this group,
which is often vulnerable to economic
downturns.

3. Key Observations and Implications

Shift from Primary to Service Sector:

The data reveals a critical transition in the Indian
economy from agriculture-based employment to
service-oriented jobs, which are typically
associated with higher growth potential and
income levels.

Growth of Regular Employment:

The rise in regular salaried positions indicates a

shift towards formal employment, which
generally offers better job security and benefits.
This trend is crucial for economic stability and
improving living standards.

Vulnerability of Casual Workers:

The fluctuations in the number of casual wage
laborers highlight the instability of informal
employment. These workers often lack social
security, making them more susceptible to
economic shocks.

4. Discussion Points

Economic Implications:

What do the declining numbers in the primary

sector imply about rural economies and food
security?

Social Implications:
How does the growth in regular salaried
employment affect social mobility and economic
inequality?

Policy Considerations:

What policies could be implemented to further

encourage the transition from informal to formal
employment, especially for casual wage
laborers?

5. Conclusion
The trends from 1972 to 2018 depict a dynamic
transformation in India's employment structure,
characterized by a decline in agricultural reliance
and a rise in service sector jobs. This evolution
presents both opportunities and challenges that
require careful policy planning to ensure
sustainable economic growth and equitable
employment for all segments of the population.
Understanding these trends is crucial for
addressing current labor market issues and
fostering inclusive economic development.

NCERT Solutions:-

Sure! Here are detailed solutions to your

questions:

Solutions:
1. Who is a worker? A worker is an individual who
engages in economic activities to earn a
livelihood. This includes those who are self-
employed, regular salaried employees, and
casual wage laborers.

2. Define worker-population ratio. The worker-

population ratio is the percentage of the working
population to the total population in a given area.
It indicates the extent of labor force participation
in the economy.

3. Are the following workers — a beggar, a thief, a

smuggler, a gambler? Why?
Beggar: Not considered a worker, as they do not
engage in formal economic activities.

Thief: Not a worker, as theft is illegal and not a

recognized form of employment.

Smuggler: Not a worker, as smuggling is illegal

and not a legitimate economic activity.

Gambler: Generally not considered a worker, as

gambling is not a stable source of income or
formal employment.

4. Find the odd man out:

Odd man out: Cashier in Mother Dairy or Milk
Cooperative Society.

Reason: The cashier is a regular salaried

employee, while the others (owner of a saloon,
cobbler, tuition master, transport operator,
construction worker) are either self-employed or
work in informal arrangements.

5. The newly emerging jobs are found mostly in

the:

Answer: Service sector.

6. An establishment with four hired workers is
known as:

Answer: Formal sector establishment.

7. Can Raj be considered a worker? Why?

Answer: Yes, Raj can be considered a worker

since he engages in farming activities when not in
school, contributing to economic production.

8. Why are more rural women found working

compared to urban women?
Answer: Rural women often engage in agriculture
and informal sector jobs due to the lack of formal
employment opportunities and cultural
expectations to contribute to family income.

9. Can Meena be considered a worker? Why?

Answer: Yes, Meena can be considered a worker

because she actively contributes to the family
business, despite her primary role as a
housewife.

10. Find the odd man out:

Odd man out: Rickshaw puller who works under a
rickshaw owner.

Reason: The rickshaw puller is dependent on

another person for employment, while the others
(mason, mechanic shop worker, shoeshine boy)
typically have more autonomy in their work.

11. Analysis of workforce distribution in 1972-73:

Analysis: The table shows a significant

concentration of the workforce in rural areas (195
million) compared to urban areas (39 million).
This reflects the agrarian nature of India's
economy at the time, with most people
dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods.

12. Estimate the workforce for India (1999-2000):

Rural: 30.12 crores (already calculated).