The number of workers employed in the sector increased from 13.1 crore in the corresponding period last year, highlighting continued expansion in one of the country’s largest employment-generating segments.
The survey also showed that the number of establishments in the unincorporated sector climbed nearly 17% year-on-year to 9.2 crore during the quarter, compared with 7.9 crore a year earlier.
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The rise in establishments and employment points to sustained labour market growth in the sector, which continues to provide livelihood opportunities to both skilled and unskilled workers across socio-economic groups, a ToI report said citing the findings of the survey.
The data indicated a growing share of worker-proprietors in the sector. Around 61% of those employed were identified as worker-proprietors, meaning they owned the establishments where they worked. This was higher than 58.3% recorded in the same quarter of the previous year.
At the same time, the share of hired workers declined to 24.8% from 26.9% in the year-ago period, suggesting a greater role for self-employment and owner-operated enterprises within the informal economy.Among sectors, services emerged as the strongest growth driver. The number of establishments in the services segment expanded nearly 25% year-on-year, while employment in the sector surged 31% over the same period.
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The survey noted that the sharp rise in services activity within the unincorporated economy reflected increasing entrepreneurial activity, expanding demand for local services and the sector’s growing importance as a key source of employment generation, ToI’s report (by Shiva) said.