Full Chapter Summary & Detailed Notes - Employment: Growth, Informalisation and Other Issues Class 11 NCERT
Overview & Key Concepts
- Chapter Goal: Understand employment concepts like economic activity, worker, workforce, unemployment; participation of men/women in sectors; unemployment nature/extent; government initiatives. Exam Focus: Worker-population ratio, self-employed vs hired, sector shifts, informalisation, growth trends, unemployment types. 2025 Updates: Post-COVID work-from-home, gig economy links. Fun Fact: Gandhi's machinery critique—labor-saving leads to unemployment. Core Idea: Employment contributes to national income, self-worth; informalisation rising. Real-World: Rural self-employment, urban casual labor. Ties: To human resources planning, poverty chapters.
- Wider Scope: Informal sector dominance, gender gaps, policy interventions like MGNREGA. Additional: Data from 2022-23; 545 million workforce. Depth: Rural-urban, male-female disparities. Interlinks: GDP growth vs employment elasticity. Advanced: Disguised unemployment in agriculture.
Introduction
Variety of work: Farms, factories, shops, home-based like weaving, IT programming. Shift to work-from-home during COVID-19 (2020-21). Why work? Earning living, self-worth, national contribution, meet dependents' needs. Gandhi: Education through crafts. Studying workers: Insights into employment quality, human resources planning, sector contributions to income, social issues like exploitation, child labor. Depth: Work not just paid; includes self-employed. Real-Life: Jalandhar footballs home-produced for multinationals. Exam Tip: Importance of work explain. Extended: Sense of accomplishment. Graphs: None. Historical: Factory vs home shift. NCERT: Craze for machinery critique.
- Examples: Lace making, handicrafts, programming.
- Point: Active contribution to GNP.
Extended: Millions delivered via WFH in pandemic. Errors: Only paid work? No. Scope: All economic activities. Principles: Productive engagement. Real: Unemployment streets. Additional: Mahatma's views on labor-saving. Depth: Social relations through work. Interlinks: Sectors. Advanced: National development link. Symbols: Gandhi spinning wheel.
Workers and Employment
Who is worker? Engaged in economic activities contributing to GNP; includes self-employed, helpers. Farmer produces grains/raw; mills cloth; transport goods. GNP = GDP + net foreign earnings. Workers: High/low capacity, temporary abstain still count. India 2022-23: 545 million workforce, rural two-thirds, men 77%, women one-fourth (rural higher). Women: Household works unpaid, not categorized but should be. Depth: Multifaceted employment—year-round/seasonal, fair/unfair wages. Real-Life: Rural limited resources force work. Exam Tip: Economic vs non-economic activities. Extended: Include housewives? Yes, per economists. Graphs: None. Historical: Pre-COVID office dominance. NCERT: All engaged are employed.
- Examples: Illness abstain still workers.
- Point: Self-employed also workers.
Extended: Urban variety jobs. Errors: Only paid? No. Scope: All capacities. Principles: Contribution to output. Real: Gender gaps. Additional: 471 million rural. Depth: Women farm labor unpaid. Interlinks: Participation. Advanced: Net earnings calculation. Symbols: None.
Participation of People in Employment
Worker-population ratio: Proportion actively producing; higher = greater engagement. Formula: (Workers / Population) * 100. India 2022-23: 41.1 total, rural 42.3, urban 37.7; men 54.4, women 27.0 (rural 30, urban 19). Rural: Limited resources, no education force work. Urban: Education, job search. Gender gap: High incomes discourage women; narrow work definition underestimates. Depth: Population = residents at time. Real-Life: Rural can't afford idle. Exam Tip: Table 6.1 analyze. Extended: Medium/low ratio implications. Graphs: None. Historical: Consistent trends. NCERT: Difference rural-urban.
- Examples: 100 persons, 41 workers.
- Point: Women should include household.
Extended: Qualifications suit jobs. Errors: High ratio always good? No. Scope: Economic analysis. Principles: Active contribution. Real: Urban opportunities. Additional: Discontinue studies rural. Depth: Family discouragement. Interlinks: Gender sectors. Advanced: Ratio calculation examples. Symbols: None.
Self-Employed and Hired Workers
Status: Quality dimension. Self-employed: Own enterprise (57%); casual wage: Daily remuneration (22%); regular salaried: Fixed wages (21%). Gender: Men self 54%/casual 23%/regular 23%; women self 62%/casual 23%/regular 17%. Region: Rural self 61%/casual 26%/regular 13%; urban self 47%/casual 13%/regular 40%. Rural: Farming own plots. Urban: Need regular workers. Depth: Casual vulnerable. Real-Life: Brick-making casual. Exam Tip: Charts 6.1-6.2 interpret. Extended: Quality indicators beyond. Graphs: Pie charts. Historical: Trends stable. NCERT: Attachment to job.
- Examples: Shop owner self; mill worker casual; bank cashier regular.
- Point: Self major source.
Extended: Earnings vary. Errors: Self earn more? Not necessarily. Scope: Enterprises. Principles: Authority over co-workers. Real: Vulnerable casual. Additional: Pavement vendors self. Depth: Communities not send women. Interlinks: Sectors. Advanced: Other quality like security. Symbols: None.
Employment in Firms, Factories and Offices
Labor flow: Agriculture to industry/services, rural-urban migration. Sectors: Primary (agri/mining), secondary (manu/elec/const), tertiary (trade/transp/serv). 2022-23: Primary 46.1%, secondary 24.9%, tertiary 29.0%. Rural: Primary 57.8%; urban tertiary 60.4%. Gender: Women primary 64.4%, men 37.5%. Depth: Eventual service expansion. Real-Life: Garment workers factory. Exam Tip: Table 6.2 discuss. Extended: Opportunities men secondary/tertiary. Graphs: None. Historical: Shift process. NCERT: Eight divisions clubbed.
- Examples: Agri not urban major.
- Point: Primary majority.
Extended: Women concentration high primary. Errors: Balanced? No. Scope: Industrial divisions. Principles: Structural change. Real: Migration urban. Additional: Job ads analysis. Depth: Women farm/services. Interlinks: Growth. Advanced: Later stages. Symbols: None.
Growth and Changing Structure of Employment
1950-2010: GDP growth > employment (2%); fluctuations, late 1990s decline. Widening gap: Jobless growth. Depth: Planning aimed output/employment expansion. Real-Life: Disheartening trends. Exam Tip: Chart 6.3 analyze. Extended: Early planning levels reached. Graphs: GDP vs employment. Historical: Seventy years planning. NCERT: Positive GDP always.
- Examples: 1990s decline.
- Point: Fluctuations GDP.
Extended: Employment not more 2%. Errors: Steady? No. Scope: Developmental indicators. Principles: Expansion economy. Real: Gap widening. Additional: Post-2010 trends. Depth: Jobless implications. Interlinks: All. Advanced: Elasticity low. Symbols: None.
Conclusion
Employment multifaceted; growth lags GDP; informalisation rising; gender/rural-urban gaps; government initiatives key. Depth: Address unemployment, quality. Real-Life: Policies like skill development. Exam Tip: Initiatives assess. Extended: Future gig economy. Graphs: None. Historical: Planning strategies. NCERT: Human resources planning.
- Examples: MGNREGA.
- Point: Social issues tackle.
Extended: Child labor exploitation. Errors: Full employment? No. Scope: Sectors/regions. Principles: Quality/nature. Real: Pandemic shifts. Additional: Activities. Depth: Initiatives various. Interlinks: All. Advanced: Unemployment extent. Symbols: None.
Summary
- Employment: Concepts, participation, categories, sectors, growth changes, informalisation, unemployment, initiatives.
Why This Guide Stands Out
Complete: All subtopics, examples, Q&A, quiz. Economics-focused. Free 2025. Expanded: Data interpretations, policy links.
Key Themes & Tips
- Aspects: Worker ratio, self vs hired, primary dominance, jobless growth.
- Thinkers: Gandhi on work/machinery.
- Tip: Ratios calculate; gaps explain; trends analyze; initiatives evaluate; gender discuss.
Exam Case Studies
WFH COVID, Jalandhar footballs, brick-making, sector shifts.
Project & Group Ideas
- Survey local employment types.
- Debate informalisation pros/cons.
- Map workforce ratios states.
60+ Questions & Answers - NCERT Based (Class 11)
Part A (1 mark short), B (4 marks medium), C (8 marks long). Based on NCERT, exercises. Expanded: More questions with varied angles.
Part A: 1 Mark Questions
1. What is an economic activity?
1 Mark Answer: Activity contributing to gross national product. Includes production of goods/services.
2. Who is a worker?
1 Mark Answer: Person engaged in economic activities. Includes self-employed and helpers.
3. What is workforce in India 2022-23?
1 Mark Answer: About 545 million strong. Rural constitutes two-thirds.
4. Define worker-population ratio.
1 Mark Answer: Proportion of population actively producing. (Workers/population)*100.
5. What is India's total worker-population ratio?
1 Mark Answer: 41.1 in 2022-23. Higher in rural areas.
6. Who are self-employed workers?
1 Mark Answer: Own and operate enterprise. About 57% workforce.
7. Define casual wage labourers.
1 Mark Answer: Engaged casually, paid remuneration. 22% workforce.
8. What are regular salaried employees?
1 Mark Answer: Paid fixed wages regularly. 21% workforce.
9. What is primary sector?
1 Mark Answer: Agriculture, mining, quarrying. 46.1% workforce.
10. Define secondary sector.
1 Mark Answer: Manufacturing, electricity, construction. 24.9% workforce.
11. What is tertiary sector?
1 Mark Answer: Trade, transport, services. 29% workforce.
12. What was employment growth rate 1950-2010?
1 Mark Answer: Not more than 2%. GDP higher.
13. What is jobless growth?
1 Mark Answer: GDP growth without employment. Late 1990s.
14. Women workers % in India?
1 Mark Answer: One-fourth total. Rural higher.
15. Rural worker-population ratio?
1 Mark Answer: 42.3 in 2022-23. Higher than urban.
16. Self-employed % in rural?
1 Mark Answer: 61%. Due to own plots.
17. Primary sector % women?
1 Mark Answer: 64.4%. High concentration.
18. Urban tertiary %?
1 Mark Answer: 60.4%. Main source.
19. Gandhi's view on machinery?
1 Mark Answer: Craze leads to starvation. Not machinery itself.
20. What is GNP?
1 Mark Answer: GDP + net foreign earnings. Positive/negative/zero.
Part B: 4 Marks Questions
1. Explain importance of work.
4 Marks Answer: Provides earning, self-worth, national income contribution. Meets dependents' needs, sense of accomplishment. Gandhi: Education through crafts. Insights into quality, human planning, sector income, social issues like exploitation.
2. Who are workers? Give examples.
4 Marks Answer: Engaged in economic activities contributing GNP. Includes high/low, temporary abstain due illness/weather. Examples: Farmer producing grains, mill worker cloth, transport goods. Self-employed also.
3. Describe India's workforce 2022-23.
4 Marks Answer: 545 million strong, rural two-thirds, men 77%, women one-fourth. Rural women one-third workforce, urban one-fifth. Household works women unpaid, not categorized but should be per economists.
4. Explain worker-population ratio.
4 Marks Answer: Indicator of employment situation, proportion actively producing. India 41.1 total, rural 42.3, urban 37.7. Men 54.4, women 27. Higher ratio greater engagement; low means idle population.
5. Why rural-urban difference in ratio?
4 Marks Answer: Rural limited resources force work, less education. Urban variety opportunities, study institutions, job suit qualifications. Rural can't afford idle; urban selective.
6. Why gender gap in participation?
4 Marks Answer: Urban women 19/100, rural 30. High incomes discourage women work. Narrow definition excludes household. Underestimation women workers; should include maintenance contributions.
7. Distinguish self-employed and casual.
4 Marks Answer: Self: Own enterprise, 57%, e.g., shop owner. Casual: Daily engaged, remuneration, 22%, e.g., construction worker. Self major livelihood; casual vulnerable no security.
8. Explain regular salaried employees.
4 Marks Answer: Engaged by enterprise, fixed wages regular. 21%, e.g., civil engineer. Urban require regular; attachment job, authority co-workers. Quality dimension.
9. Gender distribution employment categories.
4 Marks Answer: Men: Self 54%, casual 23%, regular 23%. Women: Self 62%, casual 23%, regular 17%. Self major both; regular men greater; gap less casual.
10. Regional distribution categories.
4 Marks Answer: Rural: Self 61%, casual 26%, regular 13%. Urban: Self 47%, casual 13%, regular 40%. Rural own plots self; urban enterprises need regular.
11. Describe primary sector employment.
4 Marks Answer: Agri, mining; 46.1% total, rural 57.8%, urban 9%. Women 64.4%, men 37.5%. Main source majority; concentration women high.
12. Explain secondary sector.
4 Marks Answer: Manu, elec, const; 24.9% total, rural 22.5%, urban 32.7%. Men 29.3%, women 19.3%. Opportunities men; industrial activities.
13. Describe tertiary sector.
4 Marks Answer: Trade, transp, serv; 29% total, rural 18%, urban 60.4%. Men 32.2%, women 24.7%. Urban main; eventual expansion.
14. What is labor flow in development?
4 Marks Answer: Agri to industry/services; rural-urban migration. Primary to secondary/tertiary. Later industry loses to services rapid.
15. Trends GDP and employment 1950-2010.
4 Marks Answer: GDP positive higher than employment 2%. Fluctuations GDP; late 1990s employment decline. Widening gap jobless growth.
16. Why study working people?
4 Marks Answer: Insights quality/nature employment. Human resources planning; sector contributions income. Address exploitation, child labor social issues.
17. Explain work-from-home shift.
4 Marks Answer: COVID-19 millions delivered home. Technology enabled factory goods villages. Modern jobs like IT home-based.
18. Gandhi's insistence on work.
4 Marks Answer: Education/training through crafts. Object craze machinery saving labor; leads starvation thousands without work.
19. Why women not categorized workers?
4 Marks Answer: Household cooking, fetching unpaid. Narrow definition; economists argue should include as contribute maintenance.
20. Quality of employment indicators.
4 Marks Answer: Status self/casual/regular; working conditions, wages, security. Casual vulnerable; self earnings vary.
Part C: 8 Marks Questions
1. Discuss concepts relating to employment.
8 Marks Answer: Economic activity: Contributes GNP, produces goods/services. Worker: Engaged any capacity, includes self-employed/helpers, temporary abstain illness/weather. Workforce: All workers, India 545 million 2022-23, rural two-thirds, men majority. Unemployment: Want work but no, nature/extent assess. Depth: Multifaceted year-round/seasonal, fair/unfair wages. Real: Rural resources force, urban education. Examples: Farmer grains, mill cloth. Interlinks: Participation ratios.
2. Analyze participation men/women sectors.
8 Marks Answer: Men: Primary 37.5%, secondary 29.3%, tertiary 32.2%. Women: Primary 64.4%, secondary 19.3%, tertiary 24.7%. Women high primary concentration; men opportunities secondary/tertiary. Rural women 30 ratio, urban 18.7; overall 27. Gap: Incomes discourage, narrow definition excludes household. Underestimation; should add maintenance/farms. Depth: Rural agri dependence, urban services. Real: Family decisions. Examples: Women farm unpaid.
3. Examine unemployment nature/extent.
8 Marks Answer: Seasonal: Few months employed rural. Disguised: Surplus labor primary low productivity. Extent: Jobless growth GDP > employment. Nature: Multifaceted, unfair wages, casual vulnerable. Depth: Initiatives government sectors/regions assess. Real: Pandemic increased. Examples: Agri seasonal, urban educated. Interlinks: Growth trends. Advanced: Elasticity low. Historical: 1990s decline.
4. Assess government initiatives employment.
8 Marks Answer: Generate opportunities sectors/regions: MGNREGA rural works, skill development urban. Assess: Extent coverage, quality jobs created. Depth: Address informalisation, gender gaps. Real: Post-COVID schemes. Examples: Rural employment guarantee. Interlinks: Sectors. Advanced: Policy effectiveness. Historical: Planning strategies. Additional: Vulnerable groups focus.
5. Discuss self-employed vs hired workers.
8 Marks Answer: Self: Own enterprise 57%, e.g., shop owner, rural farming plots. Hired: Casual daily 22%, regular fixed 21%. Gender: Women self 62%, men regular 23%. Region: Rural self 61%, urban regular 40%. Depth: Status quality, attachment job. Casual vulnerable no security; self earnings vary. Real: Brick-making casual. Examples: Engineer regular. Interlinks: Categories charts.
6. Analyze workforce distribution industries.
8 Marks Answer: Primary 46.1%, secondary 24.9%, tertiary 29%. Rural: Primary 57.8%, tertiary 18%. Urban: Tertiary 60.4%, secondary 32.7%. Gender: Women primary 64.4%, men balanced. Depth: Labor flow agri to services, migration. Real: Women agri high. Examples: Garment secondary. Interlinks: Table 6.2. Advanced: Eventual shifts.
7. Examine growth changing structure.
8 Marks Answer: 1950-2010: GDP positive > employment 2%, fluctuations. Late 1990s decline, gap widening jobless. Depth: Planning expansion output/employment. Real: Disheartening developments. Examples: Early planning levels. Interlinks: Chart 6.3. Advanced: Elasticity implications. Historical: Seventy years. Additional: Post-2010 informal rise.
8. Discuss gender participation issues.
8 Marks Answer: Women 27 ratio, men 54.4; urban gap large 19/100. Reasons: Incomes discourage, narrow definition household unpaid. Underestimation; include as contribute. Depth: Rural 30, urban 18.7; sectors women primary high. Real: Communities not send women. Examples: Degrees but no work. Interlinks: Ratios table.
9. Analyze rural-urban disparities.
8 Marks Answer: Rural ratio 42.3, urban 37.7; workforce rural two-thirds. Rural: Limited resources, less education force work. Urban: Study, job suit qualifications. Depth: Categories rural self high, urban regular. Real: Migration cause. Examples: Rural can't idle. Interlinks: Charts 6.2. Advanced: Resources impact.
10. Explain GNP and relation employment.
8 Marks Answer: GNP = GDP + net foreign; positive/negative/zero. Employment: Activities contribute GNP. Workers produce value. Depth: Net earnings imports/exports. Real: Positive if exports >. Examples: Grains, cloth, transport. Interlinks: Economic activities. Advanced: Calculation details.
11. Discuss Gandhi's views on work/machinery.
8 Marks Answer: Education through crafts; object craze machinery saving labor, leads starvation thousands. Not machinery but craze. Depth: Work self-worth, national development. Real: Relevant informalisation. Examples: Handicrafts vs factories. Interlinks: Introduction. Advanced: Modern gig critique.
12. Examine quality employment beyond ratio.
8 Marks Answer: Status self/casual/regular; conditions, wages, security. Casual vulnerable; self authority but earnings vary. Depth: Indicators like fair wages, year-round. Real: Unfair many. Examples: Daily basis no benefits. Interlinks: Categories. Advanced: Other like social protection.
13. Analyze sector shifts development.
8 Marks Answer: Primary to secondary/tertiary; rural-urban migration. Later secondary loses to tertiary rapid. Depth: Economic process. Real: India primary dominant. Examples: Agri to manu/services. Interlinks: Table 6.2. Advanced: Eight divisions.
14. Discuss work-from-home implications.
8 Marks Answer: COVID millions; technology enabled home production factory goods villages. Depth: Modern jobs IT; variety work. Real: Pandemic shift. Examples: Jalandhar footballs. Interlinks: Introduction. Advanced: Informalisation link.
15. Examine women household work debate.
8 Marks Answer: Cooking, fetching unpaid; not categorized. Economists: Include as contribute GNP, maintenance. Depth: Underestimation numbers. Real: Many degrees no work. Examples: Family farms. Interlinks: Gender gaps. Advanced: Social scientists argue.
16. Analyze casual workers vulnerability.
8 Marks Answer: No security, daily basis, unfair wages. Most vulnerable categories. Depth: Locate where—construction, farms. Real: Daily paid. Examples: Loading shop, handloom. Interlinks: Hired. Advanced: Indicators quality.
17. Discuss employment ads analysis.
8 Marks Answer: Newspapers sections; table private/public, post, number, sector primary/secondary/tertiary, qualification. Depth: Analyze jobs advertised. Real: Opportunities Hindu/Times. Examples: Cashier bank. Interlinks: Sectors. Advanced: Trends.
18. Examine jobless growth implications.
8 Marks Answer: GDP grows no employment; widening gap. Depth: Disheartening, early levels reached. Real: 1990s. Examples: Fluctuations. Interlinks: Chart 6.3. Advanced: Policy need.
19. Discuss informalisation trends.
8 Marks Answer: Shift casual/self; dominance informal. Depth: Vulnerability increase. Real: Post-reform. Examples: Gig economy. Interlinks: Categories. Advanced: Government address.
20. Analyze government role generation.
8 Marks Answer: Initiatives sectors/regions; MGNREGA, skill programs. Depth: Assess extent, quality. Real: Rural focus. Examples: Urban schemes. Interlinks: Unemployment. Advanced: Effectiveness evaluate.
Tip: Relate ratios data; categories examples; trends discuss; gender/regional analyze; initiatives appraise.
