ABSTRACT
Patterns in economic characteristics of population form part of this chapter. The chapter deals with work/labour force participation rates and workforce structure. While discussion on the world scenario is based on the latest ILO data (2015 and 2017), India’s case is based on the Census of India, 2011. Comparable data on ‘workers’ are available since 1981, and hence effort has been made to examine trends in economic characteristics of population in the country at the aggregate level with reference to main and marginal workers. Thereafter, broad features of economic composition of population as per the 2011 census in terms of work participation rate, share of marginal workers, those seeking work along with workforce structure are discussed using state-level data. Finally, patterns in work participation and workforce structure are discussed using district-level data for 2011.
