ABSTRACT
Elasticity of employment growth with respect to output growth can provide a summary indicator of employment intensity of economic growth, and it can be used at the level of an economy as well as at the sectoral level. Amongst the late industrializers, four countries of East and South East Asia viz., Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Taiwan province of China are regarded as having succeeded in achieving development through export-oriented industrialization. If one looks at the history of evolution of human society, one would note that technological progress has been a continuous process, and such progress has been associated with automation of various degrees and kinds. The major features of the experience of countries that were successful in achieving economic growth and the absorption of surplus labour included a combination of high rates of economic growth and high rates of growth of export-oriented labour-intensive manufacturing industries.
