NSS Report Employment and Unemployment

NSS Report No. 537(66/10/1)

Employment and Unemployment Situation in India
2009-10

(July 2009 – June 2010)
National Sample Survey Office
National Statistical Organisation
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Government of India
2011 November 2011

2009-10
Government of India
--,
The Employment and Unemployment Surveys of National Sample Survey (NSS) are the
primary sources of data on various indicators of labour force at National and State levels. These are
used for planning, policy formulation, decision support and as input for further statistical exercises by
various Government organisation , academicians, researchers and scholars. NSS surveys on
Employment and Unemployment with large sample size of households have been conducted
quinquennially from 27th round (October 1972 - September 1973) onwards. The NSS 66th round
carried out during July 2009- June 2010 was the eighth quinquennial round in the series, covering
subjects of (i) Household Consumer Expenditure and (ii) Employment and Unemployment. Field
work of this survey as carried out by the Field Oper tions Division (FOD) of National Sample
Survey Office (NSSO) in which the central samples were covered. -Most of the State Governments
----
Based on the central sample, the resu ts of quinquennial surveys of Employment and
Unemployment are brought out by NSSO in a number of reports. The NSSO released th Key
Indicators of Employment and Unemployment in India, 2009-/0 in June 2011. Apart from this, eight
detailed reports are planne to be released on varied aspects of employment and unemployment based
on NSS 66thround data. The present report 'Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 2009-
10' is the first in the serie of eight reports. It presents the estimates pertaining to various facets of
employment-unemployment at National and State levels. This report contains eight Chapters and four
Appendices. The main findings relating to the estimates given in this report are presented in Chapters
Three to Eight. Since the report is voluminous, the Appendix Tables are given in a CD along with the
report.
As the maiden achievement, the NSSO brought out the Key results of the S rvey within one
year of completion of the Field work and released the unit level data for further analysis and research
work by the economists, academia, scholars and all others who are interested in this subject. This was
possible because of the efforts made by the officials of different divisions of NSSO for meticulous
planning and execution of various activities involved and the hard work done by the supporting
officials and staff of NSSO. However, by looking at the highly aggregated macro level indicators
certain apprehension was observed about slow employment growth in the quinquenium of 2004-05 to
2009-10. Some people also expressed doubts about quality o data. But by looking at somewhat
disaggregated data one arrives at different interpretation and conclusion. Disentangling distinct trends
in subsidiary employment and employment in the young (up to 24 years of age), specially
employment of women in that age group l ads to an insightful comparison in the Employment
growth. The temporal structural shifts in employment leading to reductions in subsidiary employment,
child labour and women's labour, each of which has been identified as a form of employment would
expect to see decline in employment with increase in household wellbeing. But if we focus only on
employment in ges 25 or more, then far from a slowdown in growth of workers since 2004, we
actually see a sharp increase in employment. This report presents more detailed analysis of the data
and is expected to be useful to the planners, policy makers and researchers dispelling the earlier
apprehensions about the slow growth of employment. Suggestions for improvement of its'content and
coverage will be highly appreciated.
I am also thankful to the National Statistical Commission (NSC) and Working Group of the
66th round for their valuable guidance at various stages of the survey. I specially thank Prof Ravi
Srivastav of JNU who reviewe~ the draft report and provided valuable comments and suggestions for
improvement. .
NSSO

. 537 : , 2009-10
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I. (1000 ) : :-
. .. 66 ( 2009- 2010) -
+
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
548 208 382 556 128 352 550 186 374
537 202 374 539 119 339 538 180 365
11 5 8 17 9 13 12 6 9
19 24 21 30 70 37 22 33 25
( + ) 556 265 414 559 146 362 557 233 400
547 261 408 543 138 350 546 228 392
9 4 7 16 8 12 11 5 8
16 16 16 28 57 34 20 23 20
548 231 394 556 141 358 550 207 384
531 223 381 536 130 343 532 198 370
17 8 13 20 10 15 18 9 14
32 37 33 36 72 42 33 43 36
536 197 371 550 129 350 540 179 365
501 182 346 522 117 329 507 164 341

II. 15-59 ( . )
. .. 66 ( 2009 – 2010)

90.93 87.20 89.03 - - -
98.33 86.11 93.11 - - -
101.53 68.94 93.06 131.92 76.73 121.83
/ 249.15 155.87 231.59 377.16 308.79 364.95
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Highlights
NSS Report No. 537: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 2009-10
i
HIGHLIGHTS
This report is based on the eighth quinquennial survey on employment and unemployment conducted in the 66
th round of NSS during July, 2009 to June, 2010. The
survey was spread over 7402 villages and 5252 urban blocks covering 100957
households (59129 in rural areas and 41828 in urban areas) and enumerating 459784 persons (281327 in rural areas and 178457 in urban areas). Employment and
Unemployment indicators are measured in three different approaches, viz. usual status
(US) with a reference period of one year, current weekly status (CWS) with one week
reference period and current daily status (CDS) based on the daily activity pursued during each day of the reference week. The labour force indicators measured in US and
CWS are in persons and in CDS in person-days. Unless otherwise stated, ‘all’ usual
status workers will mean all workers according to the usual principal status along with the workers according to the subsidiary status categorized ‘not working’ in the principal
status. Some of the key findings of the NSS 66 th
round (July, 2009 - June, 2010) are
stated below.
A Household and Population
About 70 per cent of the households in India belonged to the rural areas and accounted for about 73 per cent of the total population.
The average household size in India was about 4.4. It was about 4.6 in rural India and about 4.1 in urban India. The sex ratio (females per 1000 of males) in India was 936. It was 947 in rural India and 909 in urban India.
About 12 per cent of households in both the rural and urban areas were headed by females. Compared to all households, they had, on an average, a relatively smaller household size (about 3.2 in rural areas and about 3.1 in urban areas) and
a much higher sex-ratio (about 1785 in rural areas and about 1808 in urban
areas).
Among those households having at least one member of age 15 years and above, about 5 per cent in the rural areas and 10 per cent in the urban areas had no
usually employed member of age 15 years and above.
The population in the age group 15-59 years comprised about 59 per cent of the rural males and 61 per cent rural females. In the urban areas, about 66 per cent
each of the males and females belonged to this age group.
In the rural areas, during 2009-10, about 71 per cent of males and 53 per cent of the females were literate. The corresponding proportions, in the urban areas, were 84 per cent and 74 per cent.
In 2009-10, about 35 per cent of the rural households had MGNREG job cards. During this period, about 24 per cent of the rural households got work in

Highlights
ii
B Labour Force
According to the usual status (ps+ss), about 56 per cent of rural males and 27 per cent of rural females belonged to the labour force. In the urban areas, the
corresponding proportions were 56 per cent of males and 15 per cent for females.
During the period 2004-05 to 2009-10, the LFPRs according to usual status (ps+ss) remained almost the same for rural males but decreased by about 6 percentage points for rural females. During that period, LFPRs according to
usual status (ps+ss) decreased by about 1 percentage point for the urban males
and decreased by about 3 percentage points for the urban females.
C Work Force
About 39 per cent of the population in the country was usually employed. The proportion was 41 per cent in the rural and 35 per cent in the urban.
The gender differential in the worker population ratio (WPR) was distinct. The WPR for rural males was 55 per cent while it was 26 per cent for rural females. In the urban areas, it was 54 per cent for males and 14 per cent for females.
The daily status rates were slightly lower than the current weekly status rates, which, in turn, were slightly lower than the usual status rates. The current weekly status WPR was 53 per cent for rural male, 22 per cent for rural females,
54 per cent for urban males and 13 per cent for urban females. The current daily
status rates were 50 per cent, 18 per cent, 52 per cent and 12 per cent for rural males, rural females, urban males and urban females, respectively.
Among the usually employed (ps+ss), about 54 per cent of the rural males and
56 per cent of rural females were self-employed. In the urban areas, corresponding proportions were 41 per cent for both males and females. In the
urban areas, about 42 per cent of the usually employed males and 39 per cent of the usually employed females were regular salaried/wage employees.
Between 2004-05 and 2009-10, in the rural areas, WPR in the usual status
approach remained almost the same for the males and decreased by about 7
percentage points for the females. In the urban areas, the rates decreased by about 1 percentage point for the males and 3 percentage points for the females.
In rural India, the proportion of usually employed (ps+ss) male workers engaged in the agricultural activities declined gradually from 81 per cent in 1977-78 to 63 per cent in 2009-10 whereas for the female workers, the decline was less - from
88 per cent to 79 per cent during the same period.
In urban India, the ‘trade, hotel and restaurant' sector engaged about 27 per cent of the usually employed (ps+ss) male workers while each of ‘manufacturing’
and ‘other services’ sector accounted for nearly 22 per cent of them. On the

Highlights
iii
accounted for the highest proportion (39 per cent), followed by ‘manufacturing’ (28 per cent).
The proportion of urban females employed in ‘other services’ sector increased from 36 per cent in 2004-05 to 39 percent in 2009-10 and the ‘agriculture’ sector revealed a fall in its share by about 4 percentage points during this period.
D Unemployment Rate
The unemployment rate (number of person unemployed per 1000 persons in the labour force), according to usual status (ps+ss), was 16 in the rural areas and 34
in the urban areas. It was 57 for urban females, 28 for urban males and 16 for both males and females in the rural areas.
The unemployment rates according to the current daily status (cds) approach are higher than the rates obtained according to usual status approach and weekly
status approach, thereby indicating a high degree of intermittent unemployment.
The unemployment rate according to thecurrent weekly status (cws) approach was
33 in rural areas and 42 in the urban areas. According to the current daily status
(cds) approach, it was 68 in the rural areas and 58 in the urban areas.
During the period 2004-05 and 2009-10, the unemployment rate in terms of the usual status (ps+ss), remained almost the same for rural males and decreased by 1
percentage point for urban males. For rural females also it remained almost the same whereas for urban females it decreased by 1 percentage point.
In both the rural and urban areas, unemployment rate among the educated (secondary and above) persons of age 15 years and above was higher than that
among those whose education level was lower than secondary: for usual status
(ps+ss), unemployment rate among the educated was 4 per cent for each of rural
and urban males while it was 12 per cent for each of rural and urban female.
The unemployment rate was much higher among the youth (15-29) as compared to that in the overall population. According to the usual status (ps+ss),
unemployment rate among the youth was 5 per cent each for male and female in rural areas, 8 per cent for urban male and 14 per cent for urban female.
Among the educated youth (age:15-29 years and level of education: secondary
and above), the unemployment rate was predominantly high in both the rural and urban areas. According to the usual status (ps+ss), the rates were 8 per cent for
rural males, 18 per cent for rural females, 10 per cent for urban males and 23 per
cent for urban females.
E Underemployment
During 2009-10, the proportion of usually employed (ps+ss) females who were found not to be employed during the week preceding the date of survey was 15
per cent in rural India and nearly 6 per cent in urban India. The corresponding

Highlights
iv
The proportion of person-days of the usually employed (ps+ss) utilised for work, in the rural and urban areas, was estimated at about 69 per cent and 85 per cent, respectively for females, and 92 and 96 per cent, respectively for males.
During 2009-10, in the age group 15 years and above, about 11 per cent of usually employed rural males and 6 per cent of usually employed urban males sought or were available for additional work. The corresponding percentages for
females were around 8 in rural areas and 6 in urban areas.
During 2009-10, in the age group 15 years and above, about 10 per cent of rural males, 7 per cent of rural females and 5 per cent each of urban males and
females reported availability for alternative work.
F Labour Mobility
During the two years preceding the date of survey, only a negligible proportion (less than 1 per cent) among the usually (ps) working persons had changed work status while change of establishment among the usually (ps) employed was
reported for 5 per cent for rural male, 6 per cent for rural female, 4 per cent for
urban male and 5 per cent for urban female. .
The proportion of persons who changed their establishment is much less among those with education level higher secondary and above as compared to those
with lower levels of education - be it in rural areas or in urban areas.
During the two years preceding the date of survey, about 1 per cent of rural
males, urban males, urban females, and negligible proportion (0.3 per cent) of
rural females who were workers in usual status (ps) reported change in their industry of work.
During the two years preceding the date of survey, about 1 per cent of rural males, urban males, urban females, and negligible proportion (.3 per cent) of rural females who were workers in usual status (ps) reported change in their
occupation.
Highlights
v
I. Some important employment and unemployment indicators (per 1000) at a glance
all-India NSS 66 th
rural urban rural+urban
indicator male female person male female person male female person
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
usual principal status
LFPR 548 208 382 556 128 352 550 186 374
WPR 537 202 374 539 119 339 538 180 365
PU 11 5 8 17 9 13 12 6 9
UR 19 24 21 30 70 37 22 33 25
usual status (ps + ss)
LFPR 556 265 414 559 146 362 557 233 400
WPR 547 261 408 543 138 350 546 228 392
PU 9 4 7 16 8 12 11 5 8
UR 16 16 16 28 57 34 20 23 20
current weekly status
LFPR 548 231 394 556 141 358 550 207 384
WPR 531 223 381 536 130 343 532 198 370
PU 17 8 13 20 10 15 18 9 14
UR 32 37 33 36 72 42 33 43 36
current daily status
LFPR 536 197 371 550 129 350 540 179 365
WPR 501 182 346 522 117 329 507 164 341
PU 35 16 25 28 12 20 33 15 24
UR 64 80 68 51 91 58 61 82 66
II. Wage rates (Rs.) per day for persons of age 15-59 years
all-India NSS 66 th
male female person male female person
Casual labour in
Casual labour in other
Casual labour in other
Regular wage/ salaried
persons 249.15 155.87 231.59 377.16 308.79 364.95
Labour force participation rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the number of persons/ person-days in the labour force per 1000 persons /person-days
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the number of persons/person-days
employed per 1000 persons/person-days. Proportion Unemployed (PU): It is defined as the number of persons/person-days
unemployed per 1000 persons/person-days. Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the number of persons/person-days

Contents
Page
Chapter Two Concepts and Definitions 8– 28
Summary of Findings
Chapter Four Labour Force 63 - 73
Chapter Five Employed (Work Force) 74 - 151
Chapter Six Unemployed 152 - 180
Chapter Seven Underemployment 181 – 195
Chapter Eight Labour Mobility: Change in Nature of Work 196 - 205
Appendix A Detailed Tables :Table1 to Table 75 (in CD) A-1 – A-816
Appendix B Sample Design and Estimation Procedure B-1 – B-8
Appendix C Population Projection C-1 – C-3
Appendix D Schedule on Employment and Unemployment (Sch. 10) D-1 – D-16
Appendix E RSEs of worker population ratio (WPR) E-1
Appendix A
Detailed Tables
Table No. Title Page
Table (1) Number of villages/ UFS blocks, households and persons surveyed by state/ u.t.
A-1
Table (2) Number of households and persons surveyed by age and sex for each state/ u.t.
A-2- A-4
Table (3) Estimated number of households and persons by age and sex for each
state/ u.t.
A-5-A-10
Table (4) Distribution (per 1000) of households by decile classes on household
monthly per capita consumer expenditure for each principal household industry
A-11-A-12
Table (5) Distribution (per 1000) of households by decile classes on household
monthly per capita expenditure for each principal household occupation
A-13-A-14
Table (6R/U) Distribution (per 1000) of households by household type for each decile
class on household monthly per-capita consumer expenditure
A-15- A-16
Table (7R) Distribution (per 1000) of households by household type for each size class of land owned (rural areas only)
A-17
Contents
Table (8R) Average area of land possessed and average household size by size class of land possessed and sex of the head of household (rural areas only)
A-18
Table (9R) Distribution (per 1000) of households by household type for each size
class of land cultivated for rural areas
A-19
Table (10) Number of households having MGNREG job card per 1000 households, distribution (per 1000) of households by status of getting work in NREG works and average number of days got work during last 365 days for each decile class on household monthly per capita expenditure
A-20
Table (11) Number of households having MGNREG job card per 1000 households, per 1000 distribution of households by status of getting work in NREG works and average number of days got work during last 365 days for each household type and status of having MGNREG job card
A-21-A-22
Table (12) Number per 1000 of households in rural areas getting work in MGNREG
works and their per 1000 distribution by mode of payment of the wages earned during last 365 days for each decile class on household monthly per
capita expenditure
A-23
Table (13) Number of households with member(s) reported having specified post
office account per 1000 of households (P), and average number of such accounts (0.0) held by all the members per household (A) as on the date of survey and number of households with members(s) reported using
specified services in any post office during the last 3 months per 1000 of households for each decile class on household monthly per capita
expenditure
A-24-A-25
Table (14) Distribution (per 1000) of households with at least one member of age 15 years and above by number of usual status workers (ps+ss) of age 15 years
and above for each decile class on household monthly per capita expenditure
A-26-A-29
Table (15) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by age-group for each decile class on household monthly per capita expenditure
A-30-A-33
Table ( 16) Per 1000 distribution of persons (of age 10 years & above) by marital
status for each age-group
A-34-A-39
Table (17) Per 1000 distribution of persons of age 5 years & above by general education level for each age-group
A-40-A-48
Table (18) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by principal usual activity category for each age-group
A-49-A-57
Table (19) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by age group for each principal usual activity category
A-58-A-66
Table (20) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by usual activity category taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorized
'not working' in the principal status (ps+ss) for each age-group
A-67-A-75
Table (21) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by age-group for each usual activity
category also taking into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorized 'not working' in the principal status
A-76-A-84
Contents
Table (22) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by principal usual activity category for each general educational level
A-85-A-129
Table (23) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by general educational level for each
principal usual activity category
A-130-A-174
Table (24) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by usual activity category taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorised 'not working' in the principal status for each general educational level
A-175-A-228
Table (25) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by general educational level for each
usual activity category taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorised 'not working' in the principal status
A-229-A-282
Table (26) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by usual activity category taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorized 'not working' in the principal status for each decile class on household
monthly per capita consumer expenditure
A-283-A-288
Table (27R/U) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by usual activity category taking also
into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorised 'not working' in the principal status for each household type
A-289-A-294
Table (28R) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by usual activity category taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic status of persons categorised 'not working' for each household land cultivated class
A-295-A-297
Table (29) Distribution (per 1000 ) of usually working persons by industry of work A-298-A-332
Table (30) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by usual subsidiary economic activity for each usual principal activity
A-333-A-341
Table (31) Number of persons registered in employment exchange per 1000 persons of age
15-29 years and 15-45 years and their distribution (per 1000) by general
educational level for each usual principal activity status
A-342-A-350
Table (32) Distribution (per 1000) of persons of age 15-59 years not pursuing any economic activity (i.e., non-workers) according to the usual principal status by seeking/availability/suitability for the type of occupation (NCO- 2004 sub-division) for each usual principal activity status
A-351-A-368
Table (33) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by current weekly activity for each age- group
A-369-A-377
Table (34) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by age-group for each current weekly activity
A-378-A-386
Table (35) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by current daily activity for each age-group
A-387-A-395
Table (36) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by age-group for each current daily activity
A-396-A-404
Table (37) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by current weekly activity for each sub-
round
A-405-A-413
Table (38) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by current daily activity for each sub-
round
A-414-A-422
Contents
Table (39) Distribution (per 1000) of persons/person-days working according to CWS/ CDS by NIC-2004 division/section
A-423-A-428
Table (40) Distribution (per 10000) of workers by occupation sub-division /division A-429-A-431
Table (41R) Distribution (per 1000) of working persons-days by type of operation for each broad current daily work activity
A-432
Table (42) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by current weekly activity status for each general educational level
A-433-A-486
Table (43) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by current daily activity for each
decile class on household monthly per capita consumer expenditure
A-487-A-492
Table (44R/U) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by current daily activity for each
household type for rural/ urban areas
A-493-A-498
Table (45R) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by current daily activity for each household land cultivated class for rural areas
A-499-A-501
Table (46) Average wage/salary earnings (Rs. 0.00) per day received by regular wage/salaried employees (31,71 & 72) of age 15-59 years by industry of
work and broad education category
A-502-A-507
Table (47) Average wage/salary earnings (Rs.0.00) per day received by regular wage/salaried employees (31, 71 & 72) of age 15-59 years by occupation groups and broad education category
A-508-A-516
Table (48R) Average wage earnings (Rs. 0.00) per day received by casual wage
labourers (activity status codes: 41, 51) by age-group, industry and type of operation for each sub-round for rural areas
A-517-A-525
Table (48U) Average wage earnings (Rs. 0.00) per day received by casual wage labourers (activity status code: 51) by age-group and industry for each sub- round for urban areas
A-526-A-528
Table (49) Number of days worked in a week by usual status casual wage labourer (ps+ss) and the average wages received per person-day worked in a week
for each casual work status and industry
A-529-A-534
Table (50) Distribution (per 1000) of working person-days of current daily status workers who are either regular wage/salaried or casual wage labourers by
periodicity of payment for each current daily status work
A-535-A-540
Table (51) Distribution (per 1000) of working person-days of workers who are either
regular wage/salaried or casual wage labourers by broad classes of modes of payment for each current daily status work
A-541-A-546
Table (52) Distribution (per 1000) of self-employed persons /casual labourer/worker
according to current weekly status by number of days with nominal work and number of days worked in a week.
A-547-A-573
Table (53) Distribution (per 1000) of self-employed persons/casual labourer/persons in the labour force according to usual status (ps + ss) by number of days
with nominal work and number of days worked in a week
A-574-A-591
Contents
Table (54) Distribution (per 1000) of persons in the labour force according to current weekly activity status by number of days seeking/available for work (unemployed) in a week and average number of days worked in a week for
each sub-round
A-592-A-597
Table (55) Distribution (per 1000) of persons in the labour force according to current weekly activity status by number of days worked in a week and average number of days seeking/available for work (unemployed) in a week for each sub-round
A-598-A-603
Table (56) Distribution (per 1000) of self-employed/casual labourer/persons in labour force according to usual activity status (ps+ss) by number of days worked in a week and average number of days seeking/available for work (unemployed) in a week for each sub-round
A-604-A-621
Table (57) Distribution (per 1000) of persons in the age group 15-59 who were
unemployed on all the 7 days of the week by duration of unemployment for each broad general educational level
A-622-A-630
Table (58) Distribution (per 1000) of persons in the age group 15-59 years who were unemployed on all the 7 days of the week but ever worked by duration of
last employment for each broad general educational level
A-631-A-639
Table (59) Distribution (per 1000) of unemployed (all the 7 days of the week) persons (15-59) who had ever worked by reasons for break in employment for each
broad industry (division as per NIC 2004) of last employment
A-640-A-648
Table (60) Distribution (per 1000) of unemployed (all the 7 days of the week) persons (15-59) who had ever worked by reasons for break in employment for each occupation group (as per NCO 2004) of last employment
A-649-A-666
Table (61) Distribution (per 1000) of persons by current weekly activity for each usual activity taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic activity of persons categorised not working in the principal status
A-667-A-672
Table (62) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by current daily activity for each usual activity taking also into consideration the subsidiary economic
activity of persons categorised not working in the principal status
A-673-A-678
Table (63) Distribution (per 1000) of person-days by current daily activity for each current weekly activity
A-679-A-684
Table (64) Distribution (per 1000) of persons of age 5 years and above who sought /were available for work by period of sought/ available for different usual
principal activity
A-685-A-690
Table (65) Distribution (per 1000) of usual status workers who were without work
for at least 1 month and who sought or were available for work on at least some days during those month(s) by availability of work and period without work for each usual activity status and broad industry division
A-691-A-708
Table (66) Distribution (per 1000) of usual status workers (ps+ss) who were without work for at least 1 month and who sought or were available for work on
at least some days during those month(s) by nature of efforts made to get work for each usual activity status and broad industry division
A-709-A-714
Contents
Table (67) Distribution (per 1000) of usual status workers (15 and above) who had sought or were available for additional work by duration and reason for seeking work/ availability for work for each activity status
A-715-A-723
Table (68) Distribution (per 1000) of usual status workers (15 and above) who had sought or were available for alternative work by duration and reason for
seeking work/ availability for work for each activity status
A-724-A-732
Table (69) Distribution (per 1000) of self-employed persons according to the usual
status (ps+ss) reporting their earning from self-employment as remunerative/ non-remunerative by amount of earning regarded as remunerative for each decile class on household monthly per capita expenditure
A-733-A-738
Table (70) Number per 1000 usual status workers of age 15 years and above i) with
mostly full time work and ii) who have worked more or less regularly by activity status and broad industry division
A-739-A-765
Table (71) Distribution (per 1000) of permanent workers (ps+ss) of age 15 years & above by level of education for different activity status and industry
A-766-A-771
Table (72) Number of usual principal status workers who changed establishment of work, status of work during last 2 years per 1000 workers of age 15 years & above and distribution (per 1000) of those who changed their status of work by the last work activity status for each broad general education level and usual activity status
A-772-A-780
Table (73) Number of usual principal status workers who changed industry (division) of work during last two years per 1000 workers of age 15 years & above and their distribution (per 1000) by industry of last work
activity for each broad present usual principal status and broad industry division
A-781-A-789
Table (74) Number of usual principal status workers who changed occupation (division) of work during last two years per 1000 workers of age 15 years
and above and their distribution (per 1000) by occupation of last work activity for each broad present usual principal status and occupation division
A-790-A-807
Table (75) Distribution (per 1000) of usual principal status workers of age 15 years and above who have changed industry or occupation during last 2 years
by reason for such change of job for each broad education and age group
A-808-A-816
Contents
NOTES ON TABLES
1. Estimates are provided separately for rural and urban areas and for males and
females.
2. The estimates presented in the report, in general, refer to the mid-point of the
survey period (July 2009 – June 2010) of NSS 66 th
round, i.e., 01.01.2010.
3. It may be noted that as the tables are generally presented as ‘per 1000 distribution’
or ‘estimates per 1000’, the figures are rounded off. Thus, while using the ratios
from the survey results, it is to be noted that the accuracy of these derived aggre-
gates will be limited to the number of significant digits available in the ratio or
percentage estimates presented in the report. The estimated aggregates, wherever
possible, can be used to get ratios with more significant digits.
4. If there are no sample households/persons in a particular category, the
estimates/estimated proportions of households/persons in that category becomes 0.
Estimated numbers per 1000 are also shown as 0, when they are greater than 0 but
less than 0.5.
5. In the detailed tables, in some of the deeper classifications, some sample sizes may
be small and this may have a bearing on the precision of the corresponding
estimates.
6. The cell-level figures in the tables, when added up, may not exactly be equal to the
figure shown against the ‘total’ column (or line) due to (i) rounding off and/or (ii)
presence of non-response cases.
Introduction
1
1.0 The Report in Perspective
1.0.1 The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), as a part of its 66 th
round survey
programme during the period July 2009 - June 2010, carried out an all-India household
survey on the subject of employment and unemployment in India. In this survey, the
nation-wide enquiry was conducted to generate estimates of various characteristics
pertaining to employment and unemployment and labour force characteristics at the
national and State levels. Information on various facets of employment and unemployment
in India was collected through a schedule of enquiry (Schedule 10) adopting the
established concepts, definitions and procedures. Based on the data collected during the
entire period of survey, estimates pertaining to employment-unemployment in India along
with various characteristics associated with them have been presented in this report.
1.1 Objective of the survey on employment and unemployment
1.1.1 The main objective of the employment-unemployment surveys conducted by NSSO
at periodic interval is to generate estimates of level parameters of various employment and
unemployment characteristics at national and State level. These statistical indicators on
labour market are required for planning, policy and decision making at various levels, both
within the government and outside. The critical issues in the context of labour force
enquiries pertain to defining the labour force and measuring participation of labour force
in different economic activities. The activity participation of the people is not only
dynamic but also multidimensional: it varies with region, age, education, gender, level of
living, industry and occupational category. These aspects of the labour force are captured
in detail in the NSS survey on employment and unemployment and estimates are
generated for labour force participation rate, worker population ratio, unemployment rate,
wages of employees, etc. The indicators of the structural aspects of the workforce such as
status in employment, industrial distribution and occupational distribution are also derived
from the survey. Besides, from the data collected on the particulars of enterprises and
conditions of employment, the aspects of employment in the informal sector and informal
employment are reflected through the conceptual framework of the survey.
1.2 Genesis of NSS Employment and Unemployment Survey
1.2.1 The quinquennial survey on employment-unemployment is one of the important
surveys conducted regularly by the NSSO. The first such survey was done during
September 1972 - October 1973 corresponding to the 27 th
round of NSSO. The present
survey is the eighth in the series.

Introduction
2
1.2.2 Past Quinquennial Surveys: The assessment of the volume and structure of
employment and unemployment using large scale household surveys commenced with the
NSS 9 th
round (May - September, 1955). Subsequently NSSO conducted a number of
surveys on this subject to firm up the concepts and methods. The core conceptual
framework for conducting such surveys was put in place by an “Expert Committee on
Unemployment Estimates” (popularly known as the Dantwala Committee), set up by the
Planning Commission. The Expert Committee reviewed these surveys and the indicators
generated from such surveys conducted by NSS in the past. The concepts and definitions
recommended by this committee formed the basis of the first quinquennial survey on
employment and unemployment conducted in the 27 th
round of NSS (September 1972 –
October 1973). Since then, six comprehensive quinquennial surveys on employment and
unemployment situation in India have been carried out in the past by the NSSO prior to the
present quinquennial survey. These were carried out during the 32 nd
round (July 1977 –
June 1978), 38th round (January 1983 – December 1983), 43rd round (July 1987 – June
1988), 50 th
round
(July 2004- June 2005) in which concepts, definitions and procedures were based
primarily on the recommendations of the Dantwala Committee. The results of these
surveys have been brought out in the form of NSS reports. In NSS 55 th
round, the aspects
of enterprise characteristic of employment and in NSS 61 st
round the qualitative aspects of
informal employment was added in the survey module of the quinquennial round.
1.2.3 Other surveys on employment-unemployment : Apart from these quinquennial surveys
on employment and unemployment, NSSO had also been collecting information on certain
key items on employment and unemployment, as a part of annual series, from a smaller
sample of households in each round since its 45 th
round (July 1989 - June 1990) through
the schedule on Household Consumer Expenditure (Schedule 1.0). The objective of data
collected in the annual series was to measure employment and unemployment indicators in
terms of the usual and current weekly statuses only and study of these indicators in respect
of category of employment, industrial distribution of the usually employed, etc. These
procedures continued till the 59 th
round (January-December 2003) of NSS. In the annual
rounds, only activity status and industry of work according to usual principal status,
subsidiary status and current weekly status approach were collected through a few
columns of the demographic block of the Consumer Expenditure Schedule (Schedule 1.0).
Particulars of employment and unemployment according to the usual principal status and
usual subsidiary status were collected in the annual rounds by following a similar
approach as in the quinquennial rounds. In the quinquennial rounds, particulars of current
daily status of the household members are collected and current weekly status is derived
from them, whereas in the annual rounds, current weekly status has been obtained through
a direct query. In the 60 th
round (January-June 2004), a separate schedule on employment
and unemployment was canvassed for the first time in an annual round and particulars on
employment and unemployment was collected in the same manner as that of the
quinquennial rounds. In NSS 62 nd
round (July 2005 - June 2006) and in NSS 64 th
round

Introduction
3
round, was canvassed and particulars on
labour force were collected in the manner similar to the quinquennial rounds.
1.3 Scope of NSS 66 th
round Survey on Employment and Unemployment
1.3.1 The critical issues in the context of labour force enquiries pertain to defining the
labour force and measuring participation of labour force in different economic activities.
The activity participation of the people is not only dynamic but also multidimensional; it
varies over regions, age, education, gender, industry and occupational categories. In NSS
surveys, persons are classified into various activity categories on the basis of activities
pursued by them during certain specified reference periods. Three reference periods are
used in NSS surveys, viz. (i) one year, (ii) one week and (iii) each day of the reference
week. Based on these three periods, three different measures of activity status are arrived
at. The activity status determined on the basis of the reference period of one year is known
as the usual activity status (US) of a person, that determined on the basis of a reference
period of one week is known as the current weekly status (CWS) of the person and the
activity status determined on the basis of the engagement on each day during the reference
week is known as the current daily status (CDS) of the person.
1.3.2 In NSS 66 th
round Employment & Unemployment schedule, the major features of
data collected in NSS 61 st
round were retained. In addition, some information on ‘Home
based workers’ was collected. There is another specific importance associated with the
period of NSS 66 th
round. The present quinquennial round is the first one, since the major
public intervention in the rural labour market made with the enactment of the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005. The survey instruments for NSS
66 th
round appropriately incorporated the assimilation of data on some salient aspects
relating to MGNREGA.
round, data on employment-unemployment characteristics were
collected through Schedule 10. The schedule captured a range of information on the
following aspects:
i) Household characteristics, like household size, religion, social group, land
possessed, land cultivated, etc. For the rural households information was collected, on
whether the household had Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
(MGNREG) job card, whether got work in MGNREG works during the last 365 days,
number of days got work in MGNREG works and mode of payment of the wages
earned in MGNREG works. Information on household monthly consumer expenditure
was also collected through a worksheet to study the employment-unemployment
characteristics with the level of living of the population.
ii) Demographic particulars, like age, sex, educational level, status of current
attendance and vocational training.
iii) Usual principal activity status and subsidiary economic activity status of the all
persons.
Introduction
4
iv) Particulars of the enterprise for all the usual status workers (excluding those
engaged in growing of crops and growing of crops combined with farming of animals)
viz., location of work place, type of enterprises, number of workers in the enterprise
etc. and some particulars on the conditions of employment for the employees, like type
of job contract, eligibility for paid leave, availability of social security benefits, etc.
For self-employed persons in the usual status, some particulars were collected for
identification of home-based workers.
v) Extent of underutilization of the labour time and on the qualitative aspects of
employment, like changes in activity status, occupation /industry, existence of trade
unions/associations, nature of employment (permanent/temporary), etc.
vi) Participation in specified activities by the household members who are classified
as engaged in domestic duties in the usual principal activity status.
1.4 The survey outline of NSS 66 th
round survey
1.4.1 Geographical coverage: The survey covered the whole of the Indian Union except (i)
interior villages of Nagaland situated beyond five kilometres of the bus route and (ii)
villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands which remained inaccessible throughout the
year. However, all the sample first stage units of both rural and urban areas of Leh, Kargil
and Poonch districts of Jammu & Kashmir became casualty and therefore these districts
were outside the survey coverage.
1.4.2 Sub-round : The fieldwork of the 66 th
round of NSSO started from 1 st
July, 2009 and
continued till 30 th
June, 2010. As usual, the survey period of this round was divided into
four sub-rounds, each with a duration of three months, the 1 st
sub-round period ranging
sub-round period from October to December 2009
and so on. An equal number of sample villages/blocks (FSUs) was allotted for survey in
each of these four sub-rounds. The survey used the interview method of data collection
from a sample of randomly selected households.
1.5 Sample Design
1.5.1 A stratified multi-stage design was adopted for the 66 th
round survey. The first stage
units (FSU) were the 2001 census villages (Panchayat wards in case of Kerala) in the rural
sector and Urban Frame Survey (UFS) blocks in the urban sector. In addition, two non-
UFS towns of Leh and Kargil of Jammu & Kashmir were also treated as FSUs in the urban
sector. The ultimate stage units (USU) were households in both the sectors. Hamlet-
groups/sub-blocks constituted the intermediate stage whenever these were formed in the
sample FSUs. For the rural sector , the list of 2001 census villages (Panchayat wards in
case of Kerala) constituted the sampling frame. For the urban sector, the list of latest
available UFS blocks constituted the sampling frame. For non-UFS towns, frame consisted
of the individual towns (only two towns, viz., Leh & Kargil constituted this frame). Within

Introduction
5
comprising all rural areas of the district and urban stratum comprising all the urban areas
of the district. However, within the urban areas of a district, if there were one or more
towns with population 10 lakhs or more as per population census 2001 in a district, each of
them formed a separate basic stratum and the remaining urban areas of the district were
considered as another basic stratum. There was no sub-stratification in the urban sector.
However, to net adequate number of child workers, for all rural strata, each stratum was
divided into 2 sub-strata. These were, sub-stratum 1: all villages with proportion of child
workers (p) >2P (where P is the average proportion of child workers for the sate/ UT as
per Census 2001) and sub-stratum 2: remaining villages.
1.5.2 At the all-India level, a total number of 12784 FSUs were allocated for survey in the
central sample. This sample size was at par with the sample size of NSS 61 st
round. In
addition, 24 State sample FSUs (16 for rural sector and 8 for urban sector) of Leh and
Kargil districts of J & K were included in the central sample. The total number of sample
FSUs was allocated to the States and UTs in proportion to population as per census 2001
subject to the availability of investigators and ensuring minimum sample allocation to each
State/ UT. The State/ UT level sample size was allocated between two sectors in
proportion to population as per census 2001 with double weightage to urban sector subject
to the restriction that urban sample size for bigger states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
etc. did not exceed the rural sample size. A minimum of 16 FSUs (to the extent possible)
was allocated to each state/ UT separately for rural and urban areas. Further the State level
allocations for both rural and urban areas were adjusted marginally in a few cases to
ensure that each stratum/ sub-stratum got a minimum allocation of 4 FSUs. Within each
sector of a State/ UT, the respective sample size was allocated to the different strata/ sub-
strata in proportion to the population as per census 2001. Allocations at stratum/ sub-
stratum level were adjusted to multiples of 4 with a minimum sample size of 4 and equal
number of samples was allocated among the four sub rounds.
1.5.3 For the rural sector, from each stratum/ sub-stratum, required number of sample
villages were selected by probability proportional to size with replacement (PPSWR), size
being the population of the village as per Census 2001. For urban sector, from each
stratum FSUs were selected by using Simple Random Sampling Without Replacement
(SRSWOR). Both rural and urban samples were drawn in the form of two independent
sub-samples. All households listed in the selected village/block/ hamlet-groups/sub-blocks
were stratified into three second stage strata (SSS). A total of 8 households were selected
from each sample village/block for canvassing the employment and un-employment
schedule. The sample households from each of the second stage strata were selected by
SRSWOR.
Introduction
6
1.5.4 Out of the total number of 12,808 FSUs (7,524 villages and 5,284 urban blocks)
allotted for the central sample 1
(including 24 state sample FSUs of Leh and Kargil districts
of J & K: 16 for rural sector and 8 for urban sector), 12,654 FSUs (7,402 villages and
5,252 urban blocks) could be surveyed at the all-India level for canvassing Schedule 10.
The number of households surveyed was 1,00,957 (59,129 in rural areas and 41,828 in
urban areas) and number of persons surveyed was 4,59,784 (2,81,327 in rural areas and
1,78,457 in urban areas). The sample design and estimation procedure used for the survey
is given in Appendix B of this report.
1.5.5 The domains of rural and urban sector in the survey are co-terminus with the
criterion adopted in census. The urban frame used in the survey is the latest updated UFS
that takes into account the newly declared towns after the last census 2001.Accordingly
the rural sector is the one that is not urban.
1.6 Contents of this report
1.6.1 This report contains eight chapters, including the present introductory chapter, and
four appendices. Chapter Two describes the concepts and definitions of those terms used
in the survey in connection with the various items covered in this report. The main
findings relating to the estimates given in this report are presented and discussed in
Chapters Three to Eight. To start with, Chapter Three is on household and population
characteristics. Discussions on the labour force, the work force and the unemployed are
presented in Chapters Four, Five and Six, respectively. The next chapter, viz. Chapter
Seven, deals with underemployment while the last chapter discusses the feature of labour
mobility. In Chapters Three to Eight, wherever state level tables have been presented,
those have been placed at the end of the respective chapters. The detailed tables forming
the basis of this report are presented in Appendix A. Appendix B gives a detailed
description of the sample design and estimation procedure used for the survey. In
Appendix C, the Projected Population as on 1 st
March 2009 and 1 st
March 2010 supplied
by RGI Office have been presented along with those projected for 1 st
January 2010 using
compound rate of growth. The projections have been given for, male and female,
separately, for rural and urban for each State/U.T. Appendix D gives a facsimile of the
schedule canvassed in the survey. The RSEs of worker population ratio (WPR) according
to usual status (PS+SS) and current weekly status (CWS) have been presented in
Appendix E for the major States.
1.6.2 The detailed tables turned out to be very voluminous. Hence, the hard-copy of the
detailed tables (Appendix A) does not form a part of the Report and Appendix A of the
report is provided in CD.
1.6.3 The estimates of key employment and unemployment characteristics are generally
presented, as ratios. However, the estimates of aggregates are also given in the margin of
the detailed tables presented for all-India levels. It may be noted that estimates of ratios are
1 The sample selected for NSS 66th round which was surveyed by NSSO is termed “Central sample”. As is usual in the
regular NSS rounds, most States and Union Territories participated in the survey: the sample surveyed by State
Government officials is termed as “State sample”.

Introduction
7
generally expected to be robust and the estimates of aggregates may be used only to
combine the ratios. However, to arrive at estimated absolute number in any category, the
users may apply the survey estimates of ratios to the census population or projections 2 . It
may also be noted that as the tables are generally presented as ‘per 1000 distribution’ or rates
‘per 1000’, the figures are rounded off. Thus, while using the ratios from the survey results,
it is to be noted that the accuracy of these derived aggregates will be limited to the number of
significant digits available in such ratios. The estimates presented in this report, in general,
refer to the mid-point of the survey period (July 2009 – June 2010) of NSS 66 th
round, i.e.,
01.01.2010.
1.6.4 The estimates of key indicators of employment and unemployment have been
presented for all the States and U.Ts. While using the estimates for the smaller States, it
may be kept in mind that the sample sizes for them may not be adequate enough for
getting sufficiently reliable estimates.
1.7 NSS 66 th
Round Reports on Employment and Unemployment
1.7.1 The results of NSS rounds are released in reports based on comprehensive tabulation
of subject parameters and indicators in various cross classifications generated from the
central sample data. Corresponding to NSS 66 th
round quinquennial survey on
Employment and Unemployment, the results are planned for release in eight reports. In
addition to these eight reports planned, a document on Key Indicators of Employment and
Unemployment in India, 2009-10 has already been released in June 2011. Of the eight
reports, the present one - first in the series of reports - deals in some detail, with the
employment-unemployment estimates measured in terms of the three basic approaches of
usual status, current weekly status and current daily status and their patterns along with
their correlates. It also covers some aspects of underemployment. The report gives the
results generated at all-India level and some important results for different states/union
territories. The tentative titles of the other seven reports planned to be released are:
(i) Informal Sector and Conditions of Employment in India: 2009 – 10
(ii) Employment and Unemployment situation among Social Groups in India: 2009 – 10
(iii) Status of Education and Vocational Training in India: 2009 – 10
(iv) Participation of Women in Specified Activities along with Domestic Duties: 2009 - 10
(v) Employment and Unemployment situation in Cities and Towns in India: 2009 – 10
(vi) Home-based Workers in India 2009-10
(vii) Employment and Unemployment situation among Major Religious groups in India:
2009 – 10.
2 In Appendix C, the Projected Population as on 1st March 2009 and 1st March 2010 supplied by RGI Office have been

Chapter Two
8
Concepts and Definitions
2.0 The concepts and definitions of some important terms used in the survey and relevant
to this report are explained in the following paragraphs.
2.1 Household : A group of persons who normally lived together and took food from a
common kitchen constituted a household. The adverb “normally” means that temporary
visitors and guests (whose total period of stay in the household was expected to be less
than 6 months) were excluded but temporary stay-aways (whose total period of absence
from the household was expected to be less than 6 months) were included. Thus a child
residing in a hostel for studies was excluded from the household of his/her parents, but a
resident domestic servant or paying guest (but not just a tenant in the house) was included
in the employer’s/host’s household. “Living together” was given more importance than
“sharing food from a common kitchen” in drawing the boundaries of a household in case
the two criteria were in conflict. However, in the special case of a person taking food with
his family but sleeping elsewhere (say, in a shop or a different house) due to shortage of
space, the household formed by such a person’s family members was taken to include the
person also. Each inmate of a hotel, mess, boarding-lodging house, hostel, etc., was
considered to be a single-member household except that a family living in a hotel (say)
was considered one household only. The same principle was applicable for the residential
staff of such establishments. The size of a household is the total number of persons in the
household.
2.2 Age (years): The age in completed years, as on the date of survey, of the household
members were recorded.
2.3 Land owned by the household as on date of survey : A piece of land was considered
as 'owned by the household' if permanent heritable possession with or without the right to
transfer the title was vested in a member or members of the household. Land held in
owner-like possession say, under perpetual lease, hereditary tenure, long-term lease for 30
years or more, etc., was also considered as land owned.
2.4 Land possessed by the household as on date of survey : The area of land possessed
included land ‘owned’, ‘leased in’ and ‘land neither owned nor leased in’ (i.e. encroached)
by the household but excluded land 'leased out'. For a piece of land under the possession
of the household, if the household did not have the title of ownership and also did not have
lease agreement for the use of land transacted, either orally or in writing, such land was
considered as ‘neither owned nor leased in’. In collecting information regarding land
possessed, the actual position as obtained on the date of survey was considered. The ‘area

Chapter Two
9
servants/paying guests who were considered as normal members of the household, as per
the definition of household taken up for the survey.
2.5 Land cultivated (including orchard and plantation) during July 2008-June 2009 :
Land cultivated (including orchard and plantation) during the agricultural year 2008-2009,
i.e., July 2008 to June 2009 was recorded considering cultivation of land from the land
'owned', 'land leased-in' or from 'land neither owned nor leased-in'. Area with field crops
and area under orchards and plantations was counted only once in the same year/ season. It
may be noted that information on land owned, possessed or cultivated as described above
was collected in hectares upto 3 places of decimals.
2.6 General educational level : A person was considered as literate if he/she could both
read and write a simple message with understanding in at least one language. For all the
individuals who were found to be literate, the general level of education was collected in
terms of highest level of education successfully completed. Highest le

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