Productivity Performance and Employment Pattern in The Unregistered Manufacturing Sector of Assam

Based on secondary data, this paper reviews the status of factor productivities and the nature and pattern of employment generated in the unregistered manufacturing sector of Assam. The findings suggest that labour productivity in the unregistered manufacturing is lower than the national average and the registered manufacturing sector of the state. Despite the dominance of unregistered manufacturing in total manufacturing employment in the state, the productivity levels are very low in these firms. Hence, there is a mismatch between income originating in the unregistered segment of Assam's manufacturing sector and the workforce it supports. This paper also expresses concerns regarding the quality of employment generated in the sector manifested in the increasing participation of women and part-time labour with low emoluments to hired labour. State's policies in terms of imparting training and skill, providing marketing facilities, credit intermediation, technology up-gradation, etc. deserve priorities for increasing the productivity in the unregistered manufacturing sector.