Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The gap between GVA growth (14 times) and employment growth (only 5 times) in the tertiary sector reveals that growth in services was not employment-intensive. Production rose sharply, but did not generate proportional jobs.

This happened because not all services grew equally. High-skilled services like IT and finance grew rapidly with few workers, while a large number of workers remained engaged in low-productivity services — small shops, street vendors, repair persons — barely earning a living. These workers are often underemployed: apparently working but contributing less than their potential. Thus, service sector growth benefited a limited section and did not translate into adequate productive employment for the majority.

Source: Chapter 2 — Sectors of the Indian Economy; 'Rising Importance of the Tertiary Sector' and 'Where are most of the people employed?'

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• The examiner wants you to connect the data (14x vs 5x) to the concept of unequal/non-employment-intensive growth.
• Two key ideas must appear: (1) growth was concentrated in high-skill, capital-intensive services; (2) many service workers are underemployed/in low-productivity jobs.
• Avoid writing a general essay on the tertiary sector — stay focused on what the gap reveals.
• Mentioning "underemployment" or "disguised unemployment" earns marks as it uses correct textbook terminology.