Farming is the main occupation of Kurukhs. They grow paddy, marwa, pulses, vegetables and some other crops. Men plough the land and women take part in other types of work. Women work harder than men. They sell fish and vegetables or fruits. Landless Kurukh men and women work as coolie-reja (land labourers). In Jalpaiguri and the Darjeeling Terai, whither they have migrated to work in the tea-gardens. Some Kurukhs, living in Andaman & Nicober Island and West Bengal are also working as fisherman.

    In crisis or draught condition, many people tried to survive by changing their occupation. Some people depends upon selling non-timber forest produce and firewood in nearby village. Some people or landless Kurukhs join wage labouring  for the first time in a compulsive situation. They do not know skilled work due to illiteracy. A very few people engage them in vegetable cultivation and selling.

      Recent days, due to regular draught, lack of job opportunity and bad economic condition of the family, some people are leaving their native land and migrated to distant metropolitan city and other places to work in different kind of labour work.  Some middlemen or agents are involved in this affair. They give the hope to provide them work in that places, but actually it seems that they treated worse in physically and mentally. Girls, who engaged in maid-servant are exploited sexually.