Abstract
India has witnessed robust economic growth and structural transformation over the past two
decades. Nevertheless, the quality of employment remains a pressing concern. In this context,
this paper examines employment quality in India using key dimensions from the International
Labour Organization’s Decent Work framework: employment opportunities, stability and
security and social security. This paper also seeks to identify the probable factors that could
influence employment quality. The analysis is based on data published by the Government of
India for three periods: 2009-10, 2018-19, and 2023-24. The main findings of the paper are that
although the individual-level factors, such as age, gender, social identities, etc., are significant
in explaining the variations in the quality of employment at the micro-level The main finding of
the paper is that although the individual-level factors, such as age, gender, social identities, etc.,
are significant in explaining the variations in the quality of employment at the micro-level.
Intriguingly, at the macro-level, aspects such as increaseing overall economic activities, growth
in organised sector activity, improving quality of governance, and flexible business regulatory
environment either have no significant role or negatively influence employment quality.
BRJ now support Model Context Protocol
Research ID
Citation Generator
Cite This Research Manuscript
Figures
No figures added
References (APA)
- Bairagya, I. (2018). Why is unemployment higher among the educated? Economic and Political Weekly, 53(7), 43–51.
- Basole, A., Jayadev, A., Shrivastava, A., & Abraham, R. (2018). State of working India 2018. Centre for Sustainable Employment, Azim Premji University. https://cse.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/wpcontent/uploads/2019/02/State_of_Working_India_2018-1.pdf
- Belser, P., & Rani, U. (2011). Extending the coverage of minimum wages in India: Simulations from household data. Economic and Political Weekly, XLVI(22), 47–55.
- Bhalla, G. S. (2008). Globalization and employment trend in India. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 51(1), 1–23.
- Bhaumik, S. K. (2013). The changing employment scenarios in rural India in the era of economic reform. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, 56(3), 349–371.
- Chen, M. (2007). Rethinking the informal economy: Linkages with the formal economy and the formal regulatory environment (DESA Working Paper No. 46). Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
- Heintz, J., & Pollin, R. (2003). Informalization, economic growth and the challenge of creating viable labor standards in developing countries (Working Paper Series No. 60). Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
- Institute for Human Development & International Labour Organization. (2024). India employment report 2024: Youth employment, education, and skills. IHD & ILO.
- Institute for Human Development. (2014). India labour and employment report 2014. Academic Foundation India.
- International Labour Organization. (2008). Decent work indicators for Asia and the Pacific: A guidebook for policy-makers and researchers. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, ILO.
- International Labour Organization. (2012). Decent work indicators: Concepts and definitions. ILO.
- Jonasson, E. (2012). Government effectiveness and regional variation in informal employment. Journal of Development Studies, 48(4), 481–497.
- Kannan, K. P., & Ravendran, G. (2012). Counting and profiling the missing labour force. Economic and Political Weekly, XLVII(6), 77–80.
- Kantor, P., Rani, U., & Unni, J. (2006). Decent work deficits in informal economy: Case of Surat. Economic and Political Weekly, XLI(21), 2089–2097.
- Ministry of Home Affairs. (2014). Population census 2001 and 2011. Government of India. Retrieved November 27, 2014, from https://www.censusindia.gov.in
- Moktan, A., & Chakrabarti, S. (2024). Decent work deficit in India: Deterioration and determinants. The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 35(3), 708–729. https://doi.org/10.1017/elr.2024.43
- Mukherjee, A. (2013). The service sector in India (ADBE Working Paper No. 352). Asian Development Bank Economics.
- Naidu, S. C., & Ossome, L. (2018). Work, gender, and immiseration in South Africa and India. Review of Radical Political Economics, 50(2), 332–348.
- National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector. (2009). The challenge of employment in India: An informal perspective (Vol. 1). Government of India.
- National Sample Survey Office. (2011). Employment and unemployment situation in India 2009–10. Government of India.
- National Sample Survey Office. (2012). Informal sector and conditions of employment in India, 2009–10. Government of India.
- National Statistical Office. (2020). Annual report: PLFS July 2017–June 2018. Government of India.
- National Sample Survey Office. (2024). Annual report: Periodic labour force survey (PLFS) July 2023–June 2024. Government of India.
- Papola, T. S. (2012). Employment growth in the post-reform period (ISID Working Paper 2012/07). Institute for Studies in Industrial Development.
- Papola, T. S., & Sahu, P. P. (2012). Growth and structure of employment in India: Long-term and post-reform performance and the emerging challenge. Institute for Studies in Industrial Development.
- Planning Commission, Government of India. (2014). Survey on business regulatory environment for manufacturing—State level assessment. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Private Limited.
- Public Affairs Centre. (2017). Public affairs index: Governance in the states of India 2017.
- Sakthivel, S., & Joddar, P. (2006). Unorganised sector workforce in India: Trends, patterns and social security coverage. Economic and Political Weekly, XLI(21), 2107–2114.
- Tejani, S. (2016). Jobless growth in India: An investigation. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 40(3), 843–870. https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bev025
- Unni, J., & Raveendran, G. (2007). Growth of employment (1993–94 to 2004–05): Illusion of inclusiveness. Economic and Political Weekly, XLII(3), 196–199.
