Employment in India’s unincorporated non-agricultural sector saw a modest but steady rise in the July–September quarter, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The number of unincorporated establishments increased slightly to around 7.97 crore from 7.94 crore in the previous quarter, building on a notable rise from 7.34 crore in 2023–24. Employment in the sector also edged up to approximately 12.86 crore, compared with just over 12 crore workers in the previous annual survey.
The quarterly data highlights subtle changes in the sector, including a growing adoption of digital tools, with internet use among enterprises rising from 36% to 39%. Manufacturing activity strengthened, with its share of establishments and employment rising to 27% and 28%, respectively. Women accounted for nearly 29% of total employment. Urban employment increased to 6.91 crore, reflecting stronger labour absorption in cities.
The survey covered 1,65,842 establishments across rural and urban India, excluding a few remote regions, and benefited from an expanded sample size and refined methodology to provide more timely and reliable quarterly insights.
High-frequency economic indicators, including PMI and industrial output, signal robust growth, with RBI estimating 7% GDP growth for Q2 FY26. Analysts caution that structural challenges like low productivity and under-employment persist despite the positive trends.
