Jobs grew by average 4 per cent in last 7 years: Labour ministry survey
Around 27 per cent establishments reduced employment during the pandemic
Chennai: Organised segment of nine sectors saw jobs growing at an average of 4 per cent annually in the past seven years, as per the first Quarterly Employment Survey by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. IT/BPO sectors were the major contributor for the job growth. Around 27 per cent establishments reduced employment during the pandemic.
In the report that looked into the employment situation of June quarter of this financial year, the ministry found that employment in nine sectors have grown 29 per cent to around 3.8 crore against 2.37 crore in these sectors, as reported in the sixth Economic Census of 2013-14. These nine selected sectors are Manufacturing, Construction, Trade, Transport, Education, Health, Accommodation and Restaurant, IT/ BPO and Financial Services. They collectively account for a majority of the total employment in the non-farm establishments.
Among these sectors, employment in trade came down by 25 per cent and in accommodation and restaurants declined by 13 per cent in these seven years. The most impressive growth of 152 per cent has been recorded in the IT/BPO sector, while growth rates in health is 77 per cent, in education it is 39 per cent, 22 per cent in manufacturing, 68 per cent in transport and 42 per cent in construction.
The overall participation of female workers stood at 29 per cent in the survey, lower than 31 per cent reported in 2013-14.
Regular workers constitute 88 per cent of the estimated workforce in the nine selected sectors, with only 2 per cent being casual workers. However, 18 per cent workers in the construction sector are contractual employees and 13 per cent, casual workers.
The report also said that employment reduced in around 27 per cent establishments due to the pandemic. During the national lockdown periods between March and June 2020, 16 per cent employees received reduced wages and three per cent were denied wages. In the construction sector, 27 per cent employees had to accept lower wages.