Here is a brief analysis of both male and female workers in informal jobs across Indian states:
🔍 Overview of Informal Employment in India
- Informal jobs refer to employment without formal contracts, social security, or legal protection.
- Around 90% of India’s workforce is employed in the informal sector (NSSO, PLFS).
- This includes workers in agriculture, construction, domestic work, street vending, small-scale manufacturing, etc.
👨🔧 Male Workers in Informal Jobs
- More likely to be in construction, agriculture, transport, and manufacturing.
- States with high informal male employment:
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal.
- Characteristics:
- Often main breadwinners.
- Many are seasonal migrants.
- Typically work long hours with no job security.
👩🌾 Female Workers in Informal Jobs
- Concentrated in agriculture, domestic work, home-based manufacturing, and garment/textile industries.
- States with high informal female employment:
- Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu.
- Challenges:
- Lower wages than men.
- Dual burden of unpaid household care and paid informal work.
- Vulnerable to exploitation, especially in domestic and home-based work.
📊 State-wise Patterns
| State | Informal Male Jobs (High in) | Informal Female Jobs (High in) |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Agriculture, Construction | Agriculture, Textile |
| Maharashtra | Transport, Daily Wage Labor | Domestic Work, Home-based work |
| West Bengal | Agriculture, Small Industry | Agriculture, Jute Industry |
| Tamil Nadu | Manufacturing, MSMEs | Garments, Textile |
| Rajasthan | Construction, Mining | Handicrafts, Household Industry |
| Odisha | Agriculture, Mining | Agriculture, Beedi Rolling |
📉 Key Issues
- Lack of social security, health insurance, maternity benefits.
- Wage disparity: Women earn 20–30% less than men in the same roles.
- No legal recourse in case of disputes or harassment.
🔄 Recent Trends
- COVID-19 hit informal workers hardest—especially women.
- Increasing digital platforms (like gig work) now also forming new informal sectors.
- Some state-led efforts like urban employment guarantee schemes and self-help groups (SHGs) support women.
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