Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/319111 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17842
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper assesses the structure and quality of self-employment in India over a decade. India, historically, has had a much larger share of workers who are self-employed and a smaller proportion of wage and salaried workers. This structure of labour force participation has not shifted much in decades. In recent years, the proportion of self-employed has risen relative to the pre-pandemic era, and much more so for women. At the same time, significant underemployment accompanies low earnings of the self-employed. The paper highlights three key constraints for improving the quality of or transitioning out of self-employment – vocational skilling, access to formal credit and legal support for entrepreneurship. It concludes by discussing the implications of technological change and digitization for self-employment and the need for reforming the legal framework of self-employment in India.
Subjects: 
quality of work
gender
trends
self-employment
India
JEL: 
J2
J24
J31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
858.54 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.