Employment : Growth, Informalisation And Other Issues | Class 11 Economics Notes

6.1 INTRODUCTION

Employment is a fundamental aspect of human life and society. People engage in a variety of work activities ranging from farming, factory work, banking, and shopkeeping to home-based work such as weaving, handicrafts, and even modern IT programming. The nature of work has evolved with technological advancements, enabling production of factory goods at home, as witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic when millions worked from home. Work is essential not only for earning a living but also for providing individuals a sense of self-worth and social identity. It contributes actively to the national income and development by engaging in economic activities that generate goods and services. Mahatma Gandhi emphasized the importance of education and training through various crafts, highlighting the dignity of labour. Studying employment helps us understand the quality and nature of work, sectoral contributions to the economy, and social issues like exploitation and child labour. This chapter aims to explore basic concepts related to employment, participation of men and women in economic activities, unemployment, and government initiatives for employment generation.

📊 Diagram: Figure 6.1 shows multinational companies selling footballs made in homes of Jalandhar, Punjab, illustrating home-based production linked to global markets.

🔗 Connection: This introduction sets the foundation for understanding workers and employment, which is discussed in the next section.