Nature, Extent, and Pattern of Rural Non-Farm Employment in India

The present paper seeks to analyze the nature, extent, and pattern of rural non-farm employment in India by utilizing National Sample Survey Estimates pertaining to various NSS rounds. The results of the study revealed that rural non-farm employment recorded significant increase during various NSS rounds. The gender-wise composition of rural non-farm employment showed that rural non-farm activities have remained male dominated. Within the rural non-farm activities, the increase in the share of the tertiary sector exceeds that of the secondary sector. Moreover, most of the rural non-farm activities were found to be informal in nature. The proportion of self-employed activities followed by casual and regular activities explain the bulk of the increase in the rural non-farm activities.