Rural unemployment in Palakkad district

Abstract

The study was carried out in Palakkad district during the agricultural year 1994-95 to assess the magnitude of unemployment of various types and to bring out a detailed socio-economic profile of the unemployed. Data for the study was generated through a sample survey using multistage random sampling technique. Suitable statistical techniques were employed in the analysis of data. The economic status of family members indicated that the maximum number of earners per household was in Alathur taluk which was 3.2 per cent and the least in Ottappalam taluk which was only 2.7 per cent. It was found that 64.67 per cent of the total population was the potential labour force and 85.26 per cent of the potential labour force were working. The labour force participation rate was 92.90 per cent and 77.33 per cent for males and females respectively. The occupational status of working population revealed that about 60 per cent of the total working labour force had agriculture as their primary occupation. It was also revealed that 69.40 per cent of the working population had one or other type of secondary activity.

The results on the kind and extent of unemployment showed that 14.95 per cent of the total labour force were unemployed and this ranged from 7.8 per cent in males to 22.67 per cent in females. Results on underemployment showed that the underemployment was highest among female cultivators which accounted to 212.27 days and the lowest among males in trade and commerce which was only 1.96 days. The results on seasonal unemployment revealed that cultivators, agricultural labourers and those in construction industries were affected by this. The study also revealed that the real problem in rural area is not one of unemployment but of underemployment and the main cause of this underemployment is the seasonal nature of agriculture.