A Composite Index Approach to Measuring the Socio-Economic Conditions of Migrant Construction Workers in Kerala

This study employs a multidimensional composite index approach to examine the socioeconomic conditions of migrant construction workers in Kerala. The study intends to evaluate migrant workers’ overall socioeconomic standing and pinpoint the major employment-related and demographic variables affecting their socioeconomic circumstances. Using a systematic interview schedule, 400 migrant construction workers from three different locations of Kerala provided primary data. Using normalisation and aggregation techniques, a Socio-Economic Condition Index (SECI) was created by combining certain social and economic indices. The results show that most migrant workers have moderate to high socioeconomic conditions, yet there are still significant differences in terms of age groups, educational attainment, monthly income, employment, and work experience. Significant differences in socioeconomic situations between various job categories are confirmed by statistical research. Statistical analysis confirms significant variations in socio-economic conditions among different categories of workers. The study highlights that while migrant workers have achieved a reasonable degree of socio-economic stability, economic vulnerabilities and inequalities persist. The findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions focusing on skill development, income security, and social protection, and access to quality housing, to enhance the overall wellbeing of migrant construction workers in Kerala. The study contributes to the growing literature on labour migration by providing a comprehensive and quantitative assessment of migrant workers’ socio-economic conditions through a composite index framework.