Beyond the fields: tracing India’s labour transition from agriculture to non-agricultural sectors

IF 1.9 Q2 ECONOMICS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ECONOMICS Pub Date : 2024-08-05 DOI:10.1108/ijse-11-2023-0904

Pushpendra Singh, Falguni Pattanaik

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Abstract

Purpose

Since the post-liberalization era, a noticeable structural change and transition in employment have unfolded within the Indian economy. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to understand employment transition and elucidate the evolving dynamics of rural economies and employment patterns from agriculture to more productive non-agricultural sectors. Additionally, the study investigates the underlying causes of socioeconomic disparities and their repercussions on employment trends.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the aforementioned issues, this study utilised secondary data from labour surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation spanning from 2004–05 to 2023. Initially, the study computed the magnitude of employment in both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. Subsequently, the distribution of non-agricultural labour across various socioeconomic characteristics was estimated. Furthermore, a logistic regression model was employed to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic factors on employment choices. Finally, Fairlie’s decomposition model was applied to elucidate workers’ decisions to engage in non-agricultural sectors.

Findings

The study reveals a significant rise in rural non-agricultural employment, from 98.4 m in 2004–05 to 193.3 m in 2023, indicating changing job preferences. Notably, the construction and trade sectors emerge as significant drivers of this trend. However, self-employment and casual labour persist, highlighting job vulnerability. Additionally, women and marginalised individuals with low levels of education and socioeconomic status lag behind in non-agricultural employment.

Originality/value

This study makes a significant contribution by offering a thorough analysis of the employment transition from agriculture to non-agriculture over a span of two decades. It provides valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of employment trends.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2023-0904.

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田野之外：追踪印度劳动力从农业部门向非农业部门过渡的情况

目的自后自由化时代以来，印度经济出现了明显的结构变化和就业转型。因此，本文旨在了解就业转型，并阐明农村经济和就业模式从农业到更具生产力的非农业部门的演变动态。此外，本研究还调查了社会经济差异的根本原因及其对就业趋势的影响。为解决上述问题，本研究利用了国家抽样调查组织从 2004-05 年至 2023 年进行的劳动力调查的二手数据。研究首先计算了农业和非农业部门的就业规模。随后，估算了非农业劳动力在各种社会经济特征中的分布情况。此外，还采用了逻辑回归模型来评估社会经济因素对就业选择的影响。研究结果表明，农村非农业就业人数将从 2004-05 年的 9840 万人大幅增加到 2023 年的 1.933 亿人，这表明就业偏好正在发生变化。值得注意的是，建筑和贸易部门成为这一趋势的重要推动力。然而，自营职业和临时工依然存在，凸显了就业的脆弱性。此外，受教育程度和社会经济地位较低的妇女和边缘化群体在非农业就业中处于落后地位。它为了解就业趋势的演变动态提供了有价值的见解。同行评议本文的同行评议历史见：https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2023-0904。

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来源期刊

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ECONOMICS ECONOMICS-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

5.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Social Economics publishes original and peer-reviewed theoretical and empirical research in the field of social economics. Its focus is on the examination and analysis of the interaction between economic activity, individuals and communities. Social economics focuses on the relationship between social action and economies, and examines how social and ethical norms influence the behaviour of economic agents. It is inescapably normative and focuses on needs, rather than wants or preferences, and considers the wellbeing of individuals in communities: it accepts the possibility of a common good rather than conceiving of communities as merely aggregates of individual preferences and the problems of economics as coordinating those preferences. Therefore, contributions are invited which analyse and discuss well-being, welfare, the nature of the good society, governance and social policy, social and economic justice, social and individual economic motivation, and the associated normative and ethical implications of these as they express themselves in, for example, issues concerning the environment, labour and work, education, the role of families and women, inequality and poverty, health and human development.