Structural Transformation, Population Ageing and Elderly Labour Force Participation in Kerala, India

This paper attempts to explore the pattern of elderly Labour Force Participation (LFP) in Kerala and its determinants using both secondary and primary data. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data from 1983 to 2011-12was used to find out the broad trends and changing pattern of elderly LFP rate, whereas, the primary data was used to provide an in-depth analysis of the factors determining their LFP in Kerala. Using stratified random sampling method, information was collected from 801 households selected from three districts in Kerala. The major findings of the paper suggest that elderly LFPR is high in Kerala. At the macro level, it is mainly due to the ongoing structural transformation process owing to agricultural transformation, which has very close connection with the changing social and family structure. At the household and individual level, poverty and old age financial insecurity are the major determining factors of elderly LFP in Kerala. As a higher percentage of elderly population is engaged in the informal sector jobs (mostly in the service sector), provision of appropriate health and social security norms would help in improving their overall wellbeing in Kerala.