According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, 58.4% of India’s workforce was self-employed in 2023-24.
This figure represents a significant increase from 52.2% in 2017-18. The Survey interprets this rise as a shift toward entrepreneurship and a growing preference for flexible work arrangements among the Indian population.
Key Highlights from the Report
Decline in Casual Labor: The proportion of casual workers in the workforce dropped from 24.9% in 2017-18 to 19.8% in 2023-24. This suggests that people are moving away from temporary, precarious jobs toward more structured self-employment.
Rise in Women’s Entrepreneurship: The shift is particularly notable among rural women. The share of "own-account workers" or employers among rural women increased from 19% in 2017-18 to 31.2% in 2023-24.
Urban Shift: In urban areas, self-employed individuals (own-account workers/employers) rose from 23.7% to 28.5% over the same period.
Important Questions from Unemployment & Poverty
Disguised unemployment generally means
According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India's unemployment rate in June 2024 was _____.
According to the latest NSSO consumer expenditure survey conducted in 2024, what is the reported poverty rate in India?
- Which of the following measures the percentage of a country's population living below the poverty line?
What was the poverty rate in India in 2019-21, according to the India National Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2023?
