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Who are the Food Processing Workers in South Asia? : Inputs for SAPLING High-Level Policy Dialogue: Unlocking Value: Advancing Food Processing for Employment Generation and Sustainable Growth in SAR

World Bank

Published

27 Aug 2026

This presentation examines the characteristics and composition of the food processing workforce across South Asia, drawing on labor market data from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It finds that while the sector accounts for approximately 2.4 percent of total employment — around 7 million workers — it occupies a strategic position at the intersection of agriculture, manufacturing, and non-farm employment. The workforce is predominantly rural and female, with women comprising 42 percent of food processing workers, a higher share than in the broader labor market. Most workers have secondary education or less and limited access to vocational training, pointing to significant unmet demand for practical skills development. The presentation also explores job quality and includes a case study on Gujarat, India.