OCCUPATIONAL DIVERSIFICATION IN THE BACKWARD REGION OF WEST BENGAL: A STUDY BASE ON UNIT LEVEL DATA

The present paper analyses occupational diversification in backward region of West Bengal on the basis of NSSO Unit Level data of 55th Round (1999-00) and 68th Round (2011-12). Occupation diversification is the most important factor for the enhancement of worker’s standard of living. We have found that Worker-population Ratio (WPR) has marginally declined in backward region of West Bengal. As regards the status of employment, the self-employment dominates in the backward region of West Bengal. Relatively higher number of workers has been transformed from farm sector to non-farm sector during recent years. The structure of employment refers to the distribution of workers across different categories, viz regular, self-employment and casual employment. Employment conditions improve when workers move from lower quality to higher quality jobs, or when there is favourable change in the structure of employment. The condition of employment, estimated by employment structure index, was declined in backward region during 1999-2000 to 2011-12. That indicates unfavourable change in employment structure. The employment diversification, estimated by Employment Diversification Index, from farm sector to non-farm sector is witnessed in backward regions along with overall West Bengal. But the value of diversification index decreased from 1999-00 to 2011-12. Keywords: Employment, Status of employment, Employment Diversification Index (EDI), Employment Structural Index (ESI)