New Delhi, Dec. 12 -- Strengthening employment opportunities in labour-intensive manufacturing and services sectors could help sustain India's GDP growth at around 8 per cent, according to a study by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).

The study points to employment as a central pillar for maintaining growth while improving incomes. It says that while India's economy expands steadily, the pace and quality of job creation remain uneven, especially in sectors that employ large numbers of workers.

The report finds that recent increases in employment mainly come from a rise in self-employment, rather than from regular wage jobs or a rapid shift to skilled work. This trend, the report says, limits productivity gains an...