Employment vulnerability is a defining characteristic of the informal labour market in Assam (a state of India), which has witnessed a steady rise in informal employment between 1999–2000 and 2011–12. Despite their substantial contribution to the state's economy, informal workers face precarious working conditions, irregular incomes, and limited or no social security. This study aims to measure and analyse the extent of employment vulnerability among informal workers in Assam, with attention to variations across demographic and occupational groups.
The analysis is based on primary data collected from 600 respondents across selected districts of Assam, of whom approximately 23% are women. A Total Employment Vulnerability (TEV) Index is constructed to capture multidimensional aspects of vulnerability, calculated as the average of four component indices representing different dimensions of employment insecurity. The TEV ranges from 0 (no vulnerability) to 1 (high vulnerability). Statistical techniques, including ANOVA and Chi-Square tests, are employed to examine differences in vulnerability by district, gender, education level, area of residence, and sector of employment.
The results indicate significant disparities in employment vulnerability across districts and demographic categories. Women, workers with lower educational attainment, rural residents, and those engaged in certain informal sectors exhibit notably higher vulnerability scores. The findings indicate the structural nature of insecurity within Assam's informal labour market and point to the intersection of socio-economic and geographic factors in shaping workers' risks.
This study offers one of the first empirical applications of a composite TEV Index to assess multidimensional employment vulnerability in Assam's informal economy using primary field survey data. By integrating district-level, gender-based, and sector-specific analyses, it provides actionable insights for designing targeted, region-specific, and gender-responsive policy interventions to enhance the security and well-being of informal workers.
