9 essential Features of Occupation Structure

9 essential Features of Occupation Structure

1. Agriculture is Main Occupation:

In India, currently about 66.7 percent of population is engaged in agriculture as against 71 percent in 1901. It has given rise to disguised unemployment. Therefore, there is very little chance of reducing the burden of population on agriculture.

2. Less Development of Industries:

In India only 17 percent of population depends on manufacturing industries, mining etc. In USA 32 percent, in England 42 percent and in Japan 39 percent people are engaged in secondary sector. It proves that India is industrially backward.

3. Unbalanced:

Indian economy is highly unbalanced. All production activities are not equally developed. Too much dependence on agriculture is a symptom of economic backwardness.

4. Less Income:

Per capita income and the standard of living of the people in India are low. It is so because agriculture yields less income than trade.

5. Small Villages:

Predominance of agriculture testifies that most of the people in India must be living in small villages and the number of people living in towns and cities must be very small. In India, 76 percent of population lives in rural areas and 24 percent in urban areas.

6. Backward Agriculture:

In India, 64 percent of population is engaged in agriculture, yet it imports food grains from other countries. It confirms that our agriculture is very backward. On the other hand, in America 2 percent of population is engaged in agriculture which exports the surplus of food to other countries. Thus it becomes imperative that agricultural sector should be developed.

7. Increase in the Proportion of Agricultural Labourers:

The proportion of agricultural labourers has been rising during the period of planning. It underlines the fact that the number of wage-earners is increasing in agricultural sector.

8. Less Development of Tertiary Activities:

Tertiary activities like services, banking and communication, transport etc. are not much developed in India. In India, 20.5 percent of population is engaged in tertiary activities as against 66 percent in America, 56 percent in England and 49 percent in Japan.

9. Trends in Occupational Structure:

That there has been no significant change in the occupational structure of India for the last one century.

Measures for Improving Occupational Structure

Following suggestions will go a long way in bringing change in the occupational structure:

(i) Agricultural productivity may be raised.

(ii) Effective measures may be taken to control population.

(iii) Much emphasis should be given on labour intensive industries specially cottage and small scale industries in rural regions.

(iv) Rural development schemes must yield benefits to weaker sections.

(v) Non-agricultural sector must be extended to absorb maximum new entrants of labour force.