Meerut GDP 2027

Labour Force & Work Force

  1. According to estimates made on the basis of periodic labour force survey in 2017-18, Labour force participation rate (LFPR) for Males and Females was 66.5 % and 7.53% respectively giving a figure of 39.7 per cent for all persons. The workforce participation rate for Male and Female was 55.8% and 6.4% respectively giving a figure of 33.34 per cent for all persons. Our estimate for workforce comes to 12.2 lakhs in 2017-18.

Unemployment rate for Male and Female was 16.1% and 14.8% respectively (Table 8). In 2021-22, there may have been some changes in these rates. Unemployment rate in Uttar Pradesh in 2021-22 has nearly halved of the levels that prevailed in 2017-18. There was also an increase in LFPR and WPR during this period.Assuming that Meerut may have witnessed a similar growth trend during post 2017-18 period, the number of unemployed persons may have declined to an extent. Given the growth that was witnessed in the past pandemic year of 2021-22, this is more likely scenario.

Table 8 : Labour Force and Workforce Participation Rate (per cent) and Workers

2017-18 Rural Urban Male Female Persons Worker (Lakhs)
  Percent of population 2017-18 2021-22
LFPR Meerut 39.63 39.77 66.48 7.53 39.69 14.51 15.25
WPR Meerut 35.1 30.91 55.77 6.42 33.34 12.19 13.40
Unemployment 11.44 22.22 16.09 14.75 15.98 2.32 1. 85
Unemployment Uttar Pradesh 5.28 10.0 7.06 3.19 6.51

[Source: Uttar Pradesh- District Fact Book: India state Publications 2022, page 99& PLFS]

  1. Meerut is not that well placed in terms of labour force participation rate. We have two independent estimates of labour force in Meerut, the population census and the periodic labour force assessment estimates. Population census data for 2011 indicate a work force of 10.9 lakh persons, comprising main workers of around 9 lakhs and the balance marginal workers. Workforce is almost equally divided as rural and urban, though the number of female workers is very small. Even in urban areas, the female workers are just under one third of total workers. The rural areas the ratio is even worse where females account for just 12 percent of the workforce.

The total workforce is estimated to be close to 13.40 lakhs in 2021-22 (Table 9). More than half of the labour force in other sectors, comprising mainly trade, transport and wage earners. Agricultural labourers and cultivators together account for over 30 per cent of work force. While the occupational distribution of workers is generally consistent with the one that prevails in Uttar Pradesh, there is greater penetration of MSME in Meerut, which has historically been a center for some important industries. Number of workers in Meerut is about 1.6 per cent of total workforce of Uttar Pradesh while the share of population was slightly higher at 1.65 per cent, indicating on work front Meerut did not have any edge.

Table 9 : Workforce in Meerut in 2011 and 2021-22

                                 Main Workers    Marginal Workers   Rural      Urban      Total       2021-22  
Male Female Male Female Persons Persons Persons Estimated
Cultivators 158,291 17,653 9,253 10,871 178,834 17,234 196,068 228,000
Agriculture Labourers 95,206 17,041 26,420 15,328 124,120 29,875 153,995 201,000
Household Industries 37,424 10,808 7,024 7,840 28,331 34,765 63,096 80,500
Others 484,132 70,255 81,060 41,933 212,081 465,299 677,380 830,500
Total Meerut 775,053 115,757 123,757 75,972 543,366 547,173 1,090,539 1,340,000
Uttar Pradesh 37,420,000 7,215,000 12,426,000 8,753,000 51,951,000 13,864,000 65,814,000 82,686,000
Per cent 2.07 1.60 1.00 0.87 1.05 3.95 1.66 1.60

[Source: Uttar Pradesh- District Fact Book: India state Publications 2022]