East Khasi Hills district has emerged as Meghalaya's dominant hub for small and unincorporated businesses, housing an estimated 68,038 establishments and employing 1,46,863 workers, according to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The survey, conducted across rural and urban areas during January–December 2025, provides the most comprehensive district-level picture yet of Meghalaya's informal economy.

Key Findings on District Distribution

West Garo Hills and West Jaintia Hills rank second and third, with 28,087 and 28,071 establishments respectively, followed by Ri-Bhoi at 22,881. Together, these four districts account for more than half of Meghalaya's total unincorporated establishments. Notably, the top 10 districts collectively represent around 88 per cent of the state's unincorporated business count, underscoring a degree of geographic concentration even within a broadly dispersed informal sector.

Other districts add further depth to the picture: West Khasi Hills records 19,075 establishments, Eastern West Khasi Hills has 13,933, South West Garo Hills has 13,173, East Garo Hills has 10,526, and North Garo Hills has 10,302. East Jaintia Hills contributes 9,562 establishments, while South West Khasi Hills records 5,961.

Strong Women's Participation Across Districts

One of the survey's more striking findings is the substantial role women play in Meghalaya's unincorporated economy, reflecting the state's matrilineal social traditions. In Eastern West Khasi Hills, women constitute 61.52 per cent of workers and own approximately 58.62 per cent of proprietary establishments. South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi also record high female workforce shares at 56.80 per cent and 55.52 per cent respectively.

In East Khasi Hills itself, women account for 44.76 per cent of workers and own 50.95 per cent of proprietary establishments — meaning women are majority owners of sole-proprietor businesses in the state's largest unincorporated hub.

Economic Output and Hired Labour

East Khasi Hills also leads in hired-worker dependency, with around 35.92 per cent of its establishments employing hired labour — the highest share in the state. The district records an estimated gross value added (GVA) of ₹3.17 lakh per establishment and ₹1.49 lakh per worker. Ri-Bhoi follows with a GVA of ₹2.44 lakh per establishment and ₹1.47 lakh per worker.

The NSO has cautioned, however, that district-level financial estimates are subject to sampling variability and should not be treated as straightforward rankings, as differences may also reflect local economic structures and industry clusters rather than simple productivity gaps.

What the Survey Covers

The ASUSE covers enterprises operating outside the corporate sector — including manufacturing, trade, and selected services — and encompasses proprietorships, partnerships, self-help groups, cooperatives, and other establishments not incorporated under the Companies Act. The survey's scope makes it a key tool for estimating the size, employment, and economic contribution of the informal sector that sits beyond official payrolls and corporate balance sheets.

Significance for Meghalaya's Economy

The findings reinforce the centrality of small shops, workshops, trading units, and service businesses to livelihoods across Meghalaya. This comes amid broader national efforts to better map and support the unincorporated sector, which the NSO estimates contributes significantly to employment in states where formal industry remains limited. The next step for policymakers will be translating this detailed district-level data into targeted support measures for enterprises, particularly in districts with lower GVA and thinner hiring activity.