Training for employment or skilling up from employment? Jobs and skills acquisition in the Tiruppur textile region, India

Figures & data

Table 1. Age distribution of workers in Allapuram (%).

Age distribution of workers	16–25	26–35	36–45	46–55	56–65	66–75	Total
Garment work – factory	30	31	30	6	3	0	100
Garment work – home	0	0	56	33	0	11	100
Agriculture	0	5	5	43	33	14	100
Construction	20	0	30	30	20	0	100
Government employee	0	0	0	100	0	0	100
NREGA	0	0	50	0	0	50	100
Own retail business	0	0	0	0	100	0	100
Services	31	23	31	0	15	0	100
Teacher	0	100	0	0	0	0	100
Total	21	21	27	17	11	4	100

Source: 2019–2020 Allapuram worker survey (N = 126).

Table 2. Most important skill required for each job for those currently employed in Allapuram (in percentages and numbers).

Skill required Type of job	Experience	Specific skills/knowledge	Good education	Personal reputation	Good networks	Nothing needed	Total
Garment work – factory	48% (32)	43% (29)	3% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	6% (4)	100% (67)
Garment work – home	75% (6)	25% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	100% (8)
Agriculture	55% (11)	10% (2)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	35% (7)	100% (20)
Services	23% (3)	38% (5)	15% (2)	8% (1)	0% (0)	15% (2)	100% (13)
Construction	33% (3)	56% (5)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	11% (1)	100% (9)
Government employee	0% (0)	50% (1)	50% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	100% (2)
NREGA	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	100% (2)	100% (2)
Own retail business	100% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	100% (1)
Teacher	0% (0)	0% (0)	100% (1)	0% (0)	0% (0)	0% (0)	100% (1)
Grand total	46% (56)	36% (44)	5% (6)	1% (1)	0% (0)	13% (16)	100% (123)

Source: 2019–2020 Allapuram worker survey (N = 123).

Table 3. Skill acquisition pathways for current and past garment jobs only in Allapuram (in percentages and numbers).

Skill acquisition pathways	Formally	As helper/self-taught	Co-workers	Employer/supervisor/manager	Relative	Friends/neighbours	Total
Garment work – factory	2% (2)	55% (54)	25% (24)	12% (12)	4% (4)	2% (2)	100% (98)
Garment work – home	0% (0)	30% (3)	20% (2)	0% (0)	30% (3)	20% (2)	100% (10)

Source: 2019–2020 Allapuram worker survey (N = 108).