Dynamics of Rural Employment in Himachal Pradesh: Trends and Structural Transformation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.v11.n07.023Keywords:
Rural employment, structural transformation, non-farm employment, Himachal PradeshAbstract
This study examines the dynamics of rural employment in Himachal Pradesh in the context of structural transformation using secondary data from the Census of India, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Economic Surveys, and other official sources. The analysis reveals that although the contribution of agriculture to the state's economy has declined, it continues to employ the majority of the rural workforce. Self-employment remains the dominant form of employment, while regular salaried employment has increased gradually and casual labour has declined. The study concludes that rural employment is diversifying at a slow pace and highlights the need to strengthen non-farm enterprises, skill development, MSMEs, and rural infrastructure to promote sustainable and inclusive employment generation.
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