Economics · Ch 10 — Indian Economy on the Eve of Independence
Occupational Structure
10.7
Occupational Structure
The occupational structure describes how the working population is distributed across different industries and sectors. During the colonial period this structure changed very little.
Think About It
Work These Out
- Can you find out the reasons behind the frequent occurrence of famines in India before independence? You may read Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's book, Poverty and Famines.
- Prepare a pie chart for the occupational structure in India at the time of independence.
Sector shares of the workforce
- Agriculture accounted for the largest share of workers, typically a high 70 to 75 per cent.
- The manufacturing sector employed only about 10 per cent.
- The services sector employed about 15 to 20 per cent.
Growing regional variation
A striking feature was the widening difference between regions. …