Over 57% of blue-collar jobs in India pay ₹20,000 or less, leaving workers struggling to meet essential needs, reports WorkIndia.
A recent report by tech-enabled blue-collar recruitment platform WorkIndia reveals that a significant portion of blue-collar jobs in India pay less than ₹20,000 per month. This low pay scale suggests that a large segment of the workforce is grappling with financial strain, struggling to meet basic needs such as housing, healthcare, and education.
Low Pay Scale Affecting Majority of Blue-Collar Workers
The report shows that over 57.63% of blue-collar jobs fall within the ₹20,000 or less salary range, which is close to the minimum wage in many areas. This finding highlights the economic vulnerability of workers in these positions, who often work long hours under demanding conditions but receive minimal pay. The limited earnings force many workers to live paycheck to paycheck, with little room for savings or investments, further exacerbating their financial insecurity.
In addition to the low-income bracket, the report identifies that approximately 29.34% of blue-collar jobs fall within the moderate earning range of ₹20,000 to ₹40,000 per month. While workers in this category experience slightly better financial security, they are still far from achieving a comfortable standard of living. The income in this range may cover necessities, but it leaves little room for financial growth, such as savings or investments. This underscores the economic challenges faced by a large portion of the blue-collar workforce, who remain economically vulnerable despite earning more than their lower-paid counterparts.
Limited Opportunities for Higher Earnings
The report also sheds light on the limited opportunities for higher earnings within the blue-collar sector. Only 10.71% of blue-collar jobs offer salaries between ₹40,000 and ₹60,000 per month. These positions typically require specialized skills or significant experience, indicating that upward mobility within the sector is challenging. Furthermore, a mere 2.31% of blue-collar jobs offer salaries exceeding ₹60,000 per month, underscoring the scarcity of well-paying opportunities in this sector. Positions in this top bracket are usually highly specialized or involve significant responsibility, making them accessible only to a select few workers.
According to WorkIndia CEO and co-founder Nilesh Dungarwal, the data reveals a significant concentration of low-wage jobs within the blue-collar sector. This wage disparity not only reflects the economic challenges faced by a large portion of the workforce but also has broader implications for social stability and economic growth. Addressing these issues may require targeted interventions, such as skill development, wage reforms, and the creation of more high-paying job opportunities.
Insights into High-Paying Blue-Collar Roles
The report also provides insights into specific blue-collar roles that offer higher salaries. Field sales positions lead the list of the highest-paying blue-collar roles, with 33.84% of these jobs offering salaries above ₹40,000 per month. This is closely followed by back office roles, where 33.10% of positions exceed ₹40,000, and tele-calling roles, with 26.57% earning more than ₹40,000 per month. Additionally, 24.71% of accounting jobs offer salaries above ₹40,000, driven by the need for accurate financial management.
Interestingly, skilled cooks and receptionists also fall into the higher salary bracket, with 21.22% and 17.60% of these roles, respectively, earning above ₹40,000 per month. However, delivery jobs, while essential, have the lowest percentage in this category, with only 16.23% of roles offering higher pay.
The report is based on an analysis of job data collected from the WorkIndia platform over the past two years, encompassing over 24 lakh job postings across various industries. The findings highlight the need for systemic changes to improve the economic well-being of blue-collar workers in India.
