Transition of Occupational Structure in Manipur: A Sectoral Analysis of Post-Census

This study dives into the traditionally agrarian state of Manipur's economy, which is increasingly witnessing a shift from primary to informal services and non-farm employment. Skipping manufacture or secondary sector could be a huge problem for a state like Manipur resulting in the dependence on unstable informal service sector, neglected value addition of raw agricultural produce, etc. This paper aims to examine these changing occupational trends by conducting a sectoral analysis across the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of employment in Manipur from 2011 to the present using secondary data from Census 2011, Periodic Labour Force Survey, and the Economic Survey of Manipur. The findings indicate a relative stagnation in agricultural employment despite government interventions, a decline in formal industrial jobs, and a rise in informal service-sector specially in trade, transport, construction and agricultural works. The paper also pointed out the under-researched trends like seasonal unemployment, and increasing skill mismatches among the youth, and identifies key shifts in employment patterns, comparing gender-wise rural and urban trends. These insights, drawn from secondary data, reveal a structural transformation that is not supported by the present inadequate skill development programmes or job creation strategies. This paper summarized some important region-sensitive policy recommendations for informed decision making which focused on localised skilling, creating industrial parks with pre-approved land titles in non-conflict zones, incentivise investment that can extend benefits of the North East Industrial Development Scheme to micro-units. By highlighting that recommendation, this paper contributes to a larger insight into the shifting employment landscape of Manipur, helping build strong evidence for more targeted and region-sensitive employment policies.