Status of Employment and Occupations of Muslims in India: Evidence from a Household Survey – 2011–2012

Abstract

Muslims are one of the most socially and economically backward communities compared with other religious groups in India. The present study was undertaken to examine the labor market outcomes for Muslims in India in comparison with other dominant religious groups in the country, especially the Hindus. Based on the employment survey of 2011-12, the paper finds that as compared with Hindus, Muslims are concentrated mainly in self-employment and lesser in regular salaried employment, which often comes with social security. Muslim workers are engaged in low-tech industries such as manufacturing of wearing apparel, textiles, tobacco products, and leather products. In addition, Muslims occupy the lower rungs of occupations such as salespersons, drivers, street vendors, mining and construction laborers, transport laborers, and freight handlers, which explains their poor economic status. Their marginalization is further exacerbated by stiff competition with other dominant religious groups, poor capital investment, and lack of direct access to output markets directly.