Employment is one of the most important chapters in NCERT Class 11 Economics because it explains workforce participation, unemployment, informalisation, employment growth and government employment policies in India. The chapter also discusses worker-population ratio, self-employment, casualisation of workforce, jobless growth and employment generation programmes.
The following important questions and answers are fully based on NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 6 and are highly useful for school examinations, CUET, UPSC, SSC, PSC, Railway and other competitive exams.
1. Economic activities are those activities which:
A. Increase entertainment
B. Contribute to Gross National Product
C. Are done only in factories
D. Are performed only in urban areas
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 94
2. Workers include:
A. Only salaried employees
B. Only factory labourers
C. All persons engaged in economic activities
D. Only government employees
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 94
3. Which indicator is used to analyse employment situation in a country?
A. Literacy rate
B. Birth rate
C. Worker-population ratio
D. Inflation rate
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 95
4. Worker-population ratio means:
A. Ratio of workers to total firms
B. Ratio of workers to population
C. Ratio of employers to workers
D. Ratio of farmers to workers
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 95
5. According to the chapter, for every 100 persons in India, about how many are workers?
A. 25
B. 31
C. 41
D. 58
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 95
6. Which category forms the majority of India’s workforce?
A. Women
B. Men
C. Children
D. Elderly
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 95
7. Women workers account for approximately what share of rural workforce?
A. One-half
B. One-third
C. One-fourth
D. One-fifth
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 95
8. Workers who own and operate an enterprise are called:
A. Casual labourers
B. Regular salaried employees
C. Self-employed
D. Contract workers
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 97
9. Casual wage labourers account for approximately what share of India’s workforce?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 40%
D. 60%
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 97
10. Workers engaged regularly and paid wages are called:
A. Seasonal workers
B. Self-employed workers
C. Regular salaried employees
D. Marginal workers
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 97
11. Which sector is the major source of employment in India?
A. Service sector
B. Manufacturing sector
C. Primary sector
D. Banking sector
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 99
12. The primary sector mainly includes:
A. Banking and insurance
B. Agriculture and mining
C. Trade and transport
D. Construction and electricity
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 99
13. Which sector employs about 61% of urban workers?
A. Primary sector
B. Secondary sector
C. Service sector
D. Agricultural sector
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 100
14. Jobless growth refers to:
A. Growth without employment generation
B. Growth in agriculture
C. Decline in GDP
D. Increase in population
Correct Answer: A
Page Reference: 101
15. Casualisation of workforce means:
A. Rise in permanent jobs
B. Shift towards casual wage work
C. Increase in industrialisation
D. Decrease in labour force
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 102
16. Workers in enterprises employing 10 or more hired workers belong to:
A. Informal sector
B. Organised sector
C. Seasonal sector
D. Agricultural sector
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 103
17. Informal sector workers generally:
A. Receive social security benefits
B. Have highly secure jobs
C. Lack social security protection
D. Work only in cities
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 105
18. Approximately what percentage of workers were in the informal sector in 2019-20?
A. 11%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 89%
Correct Answer: D
Page Reference: 104
19. Open unemployment refers to:
A. Hidden unemployment
B. Seasonal work
C. Situation where people are willing to work but do not get jobs
D. Employment in offices
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 107
20. Disguised unemployment is mainly found in:
A. IT sector
B. Urban banking
C. Agriculture sector
D. Mining
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 107
21. Seasonal unemployment occurs because:
A. Factories close permanently
B. Agriculture provides work only during some seasons
C. Workers refuse to work
D. Services sector declines
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 107-108
22. MGNREGA guarantees employment for:
A. 50 days
B. 75 days
C. 100 days
D. 365 days
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 108
23. Which employment generation is created when government enterprises increase output and private firms also expand?
A. Seasonal employment
B. Indirect employment generation
C. Self-employment
D. Casual labour
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 108-109
24. Outsourcing means:
A. Government ownership of industries
B. Closing small enterprises
C. Delegating work to smaller firms or individuals
D. Permanent employment generation
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 109
25. Informalisation of workforce means:
A. Increase in secure formal jobs
B. Growth of informal employment
C. Elimination of labour laws
D. Growth of agriculture only
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 103-105
26. Which sector witnessed rapid growth in employment opportunities after reforms?
A. Agriculture
B. Service sector
C. Mining
D. Forestry
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 109
27. The majority of workers in India are:
A. Casual labourers
B. Regular employees
C. Self-employed
D. Government employees
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 97, 102
28. Which organisation defines unemployment data in India?
A. RBI
B. SEBI
C. National Statistical Office
D. NABARD
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 107
29. Which among the following is a formal sector worker?
A. Rickshaw puller
B. Cycle repair worker
C. Government nurse
D. Street vendor
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 103-106
30. The service sector includes:
A. Agriculture
B. Mining
C. Trade and transport
D. Forestry
Correct Answer: C
Page Reference: 99
31. Which term refers to workers temporarily without work due to seasonal conditions?
A. Open unemployment
B. Seasonal unemployment
C. Structural unemployment
D. Technical unemployment
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 107-108
32. Women workers are highly concentrated in:
A. Primary sector
B. IT sector
C. Banking sector
D. Transport sector
Correct Answer: A
Page Reference: 100
33. Which form of employment is considered most vulnerable?
A. Self-employment
B. Casual wage labour
C. Government service
D. Permanent salaried work
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 97-98
34. Which of the following is an example of indirect employment generation?
A. Hiring teachers in schools
B. Government construction work increasing demand for cement
C. Employing clerks directly
D. Recruitment in railways
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 108-109
35. Employment exchanges mainly help unemployed persons to:
A. Export goods
B. Register for vacancies
C. Open industries
D. Collect pensions
Correct Answer: B
Page Reference: 106-107
NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 7 Environment and Sustainable Development Important Questions
NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 5 Rural Development Important Questions and Answers
NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 4 Human Capital Formation in India Important Questions and MCQs
NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 2 Indian Economy 1950–1990 Important Questions with Answers
1. What are activities contributing to GNP called?
Answer: Economic activities
Page Reference: 94
2. What is the ratio of workers to total population called?
Answer: Worker-population ratio
Page Reference: 95
3. Who are workers owning their own enterprises called?
Answer: Self-employed
Page Reference: 97
4. Which sector is the major source of employment in India?
Answer: Primary sector
Page Reference: 99
5. Which sector includes trade and transport?
Answer: Service sector
Page Reference: 99
6. What is growth without employment generation called?
Answer: Jobless growth
Page Reference: 101
7. What is movement towards casual wage employment called?
Answer: Casualisation
Page Reference: 102
8. What are organised sector workers also called?
Answer: Formal sector workers
Page Reference: 103
9. Which sector lacks social security benefits?
Answer: Informal sector
Page Reference: 105
10. Which unemployment is hidden in agriculture?
Answer: Disguised unemployment
Page Reference: 107
11. Which unemployment occurs during certain seasons?
Answer: Seasonal unemployment
Page Reference: 108
12. Expand MGNREGA.
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
Page Reference: 108
13. How many days of wage employment are guaranteed under MGNREGA?
Answer: 100 days
Page Reference: 108
14. Which office collects employment data in India?
Answer: National Statistical Office
Page Reference: 107
15. Which sector has rapidly expanded in recent decades?
Answer: Service sector
Page Reference: 109
16. What is delegation of work to smaller units called?
Answer: Outsourcing
Page Reference: 109
17. Which sector includes agriculture and mining?
Answer: Primary sector
Page Reference: 99
18. Which workers receive regular salaries?
Answer: Regular salaried employees
Page Reference: 97
19. Which category forms the majority of Indian workforce?
Answer: Self-employed workers
Page Reference: 97
20. Which sector employs the majority of urban workers?
Answer: Service sector
Page Reference: 100
21. What kind of workers are construction workers generally classified as?
Answer: Casual wage labourers
Page Reference: 97
22. Which unemployment occurs when more people work than required?
Answer: Disguised unemployment
Page Reference: 107
23. Which sector includes millions of farmers and small enterprises?
Answer: Informal sector
Page Reference: 103
24. Which sector provides social security benefits?
Answer: Formal sector
Page Reference: 104
25. Which phenomenon increased after economic reforms?
Answer: Informalisation
Page Reference: 103-105
Question 1
Assertion (A): All people engaged in economic activities are workers.
Reason (R): Economic activities contribute to Gross National Product.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 94
Question 2
Assertion (A): Worker-population ratio helps analyse employment conditions.
Reason (R): It shows the proportion of population engaged in economic activities.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 95
Question 3
Assertion (A): Women participation in urban employment is lower than men.
Reason (R): Many household activities performed by women are not recognised as productive work.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 95-96
Question 4
Assertion (A): Self-employment is the major source of livelihood in India.
Reason (R): Many rural households own small plots of land and cultivate independently.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 97-98
Question 5
Assertion (A): Casual wage labourers are highly vulnerable workers.
Reason (R): They lack employment security and stable income.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 97-98
Question 6
Assertion (A): The service sector provides the highest employment in urban areas.
Reason (R): Urban economies are dominated by trade, transport and services.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 99-100
Question 7
Assertion (A): India experienced jobless growth during some periods.
Reason (R): GDP growth was higher than employment growth.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 100-101
Question 8
Assertion (A): Casualisation increases worker vulnerability.
Reason (R): Casual workers generally do not enjoy social security benefits.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 102
Question 9
Assertion (A): Formal sector workers enjoy better protection.
Reason (R): Labour laws protect workers in organised establishments.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 103
Question 10
Assertion (A): Informal sector workers generally have unstable incomes.
Reason (R): Informal enterprises lack government protection and regulation.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 104-105
Question 11
Assertion (A): Disguised unemployment is common in Indian agriculture.
Reason (R): More workers are engaged than actually required.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 107
Question 12
Assertion (A): Seasonal unemployment is common in villages.
Reason (R): Agricultural work is available only during specific seasons.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 107-108
Question 13
Assertion (A): Government generates employment directly and indirectly.
Reason (R): Public enterprises create output and stimulate private sector activity.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 108-109
Question 14
Assertion (A): Outsourcing has changed the traditional concept of workplace.
Reason (R): Work can now be delegated to small firms and home-based workers.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 109
Question 15
Assertion (A): Most new jobs after reforms emerged in the informal sector.
Reason (R): Informal sector employment expanded rapidly in recent decades.
Correct Option: A
Page Reference: 109-110
1. Approximately how many workers were there in India during 2022-23?
Answer: About 545 million workers
Page Reference: 94
2. What percentage of India’s workers are men?
Answer: About 77%
Page Reference: 95
3. What was India’s worker-population ratio in 2023-24?
Answer: 43.7
Page Reference: 95
4. What was the worker-population ratio for urban women in 2023-24?
Answer: 20.7
Page Reference: 95
5. What percentage of India’s workforce was self-employed?
Answer: About 58%
Page Reference: 97
6. What percentage of workforce consisted of casual wage labourers?
Answer: About 20%
Page Reference: 97
7. What share of urban workforce worked in the service sector?
Answer: About 61%
Page Reference: 100
8. What share of female workforce was employed in the primary sector?
Answer: About 64%
Page Reference: 100
9. What percentage of workforce was employed in the primary sector in 1972-73?
Answer: 74.3%
Page Reference: 101-102
10. What percentage of workforce was employed in the service sector in 2023-24?
Answer: 29.8%
Page Reference: 102
11. How many workers were employed in the formal sector in 2019-20?
Answer: About 59 million
Page Reference: 104
12. Approximately what percentage of workers were in the informal sector in 2019-20?
Answer: About 89%
Page Reference: 104
13. How many permanent workers reportedly lost jobs in Ahmedabad textile mills?
Answer: More than 80,000
Page Reference: 105
14. How many non-permanent workers lost jobs in Ahmedabad textile mills?
Answer: Over 50,000
Page Reference: 105
15. How many days of guaranteed wage employment are provided under MGNREGA?
Answer: 100 days
Page Reference: 108