The fifth Economic Census-2005 results released by the government on May29, have revealed following important data :

Employment in sectors other than Crop production and plantation grew faster in rural areas in comparison with urban areas between 1998 to 2005. Milions of Indian shifted to Jobs in the retail trade, manufacturing and allied agricultural activities such as Livestock farming and fishing.

Employment grew at the ratye of 2.78 during 1998-2005 compared to 1.75% during 1990-98

Jammu & Kashmir emerged as the state that has the highest employment growth of 6.82%.

According to the survey of 211 million households and 42 million establishments, the employment growth rate in rural area went up by 1.60 per cent during 1998-2005 from 1990-98. In urban areas, teh rate rose by just 0.36% in the same periods.

Employment growth rate in rural areas during the current survey period was 3.88% while it was 2.22% during the previous eight year period. But in urban areas where economic activity is belived to be higher, the annual employment rate recorded for 1998-2005 was 1.70 per cent compared to 1.34 per cent in the previous periods. The survey does not accounts for employment in the government sector though.

The higher employment in rural areas was primarily because villagers ventured into self owned retail and manufacturing businesses- the two sectors with the maximum growth between 1998-2005.

Growth of self owned establishments run by family members doubled in rural areas during the census period as compared to 1990-98, when it was 2.25 percent. Similarly, establishment with up to 6 workers witnessed a three fold jump in rural areas.