What is meant by disguised unemployment? Explain with an explample fro...
Disguised Unemployment
Disguised unemployment refers to a situation where a person appears to be employed but is actually not contributing to the productive activities in the economy. It occurs when there are more workers engaged in a task than required, resulting in underutilization of labor resources. In disguised unemployment, removing one or more workers from a particular activity does not lead to any decrease in output.
Example from Urban Areas:
In urban areas, a common example of disguised unemployment can be observed in small retail shops or street vendors. Let's consider a small grocery store in a city that requires only two workers to efficiently manage the store's operations. However, due to the lack of alternative employment opportunities and the need for income, the store owner employs four workers. In this case, two workers are essentially disguisedly unemployed as their presence does not contribute to increased productivity or efficiency. Even if one or both of them were removed, the store's output and operations would remain unaffected.
Example from Rural Areas:
In rural areas, disguised unemployment can often be observed in agricultural activities. Let's take the example of a small farming family with five members. The family owns a small piece of land that can be cultivated efficiently by only three individuals. However, all five family members are engaged in farming activities, including sowing seeds, watering, and harvesting. In this scenario, two family members are disguisedly unemployed as their contributions are not required for the farm's optimal productivity. Even if they are withdrawn from the farming activities, the farm's output will not be affected.
Disguised unemployment is prevalent in both urban and rural areas due to various factors such as lack of alternative employment opportunities, lack of education and skill development, and the need for income generation. It indicates an inefficient allocation of labor resources and hinders overall economic growth. Addressing disguised unemployment requires measures such as skill development programs, creating new job opportunities, and promoting entrepreneurship to ensure optimal utilization of labor resources and enhance productivity.