Purpose This paper addresses how various types of underemployment (time-related, income-related and qualification-related) are associated with the socio-economic well-being of executives in Punjab's agro-based industrial sector, providing evidence-based insights to frame organizational and policy-level interventions. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 325 middle-level and lower-level executives working in medium- and large-scale agro-based industrial units. The study used linear regression analysis to investigate how different types of underemployment are associated with several aspects of socio-economic well-being, such as economic strain and interpersonal connections. Findings The study found that underemployment is associated with lower socio-economic well-being, though the strength and nature of this relationship differ by type. Income-related underemployment has the most significant negative impact, followed by qualification-related and time-related underemployment. Originality/value By disaggregating underemployment into distinct types and examining their individual socio-economic consequences in a specific regional and sectoral context, the study adds a nuanced understanding to the existing literature. It provides insights for policymakers and groups attempting to address the detrimental effects of underemployment in an industrial setting.
Kaur et al. (Wed,) studied this question.