53k casual jobs lost in Jan-Mar, overall employment up by 1.85L

New Delhi: Casual workers remained the most affected post demonetisation, with as many as 53 thousand workers losing their jobs in 8 select sector during the first three months of 2017, according to a Labour Bureau survey. However, the overall jobs situation improved in sectors like manufacturing and IT as employment increased by 1.85 lakh during the January-March period across eight sectors at all India level. "There was a positive change of 1.97 Lakh in regular (not on contract) workers and 0.26 Lakh in contract workers whereas the casual workers declined by 0.53 Lakh," the latest quarter employment survey by Labour Bureau, a wing of the labour ministry, said. Out of total estimated change in job (1.85 lakh), self employed experienced a positive swing of 15 thousand and employees showed an increase of 1.70 lakh. The survey shows that casual workers employment declined in six sectors covered under the study except in accommodation & restaurant and IT/BPO space. The government had junked high denomination notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 on November 8, 2016. The decision drew flak from all corners in view of inconvenience faced by commoners and loss of jobs, particularly in informal sector. The study shows that over the last quarter, there were positive changes across all the 8 sectors -- Manufacturing (1.02 lakh), Health (31,000), Trade (29,000), IT/BPO (13,000), Transport (3,000), Accommodation & Restaurant (3,000), Construction (2,000) and Education (2,000). Out of the total estimated change in employment of 1.85 lakh, female workers accounted for a change of (+) 59,000 and male workers accounted for a change of (+)1.26 lakh.