Female Labour Force Participation: A Paradox

Despite rising female literacy, India faces low female labour force participation, especially in urban areas, highlighting gender gaps in jobs and economic growth.

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Context

  • Despite India’s high female literacy —especially in urban areas—labour force participation among women remains low.
  • PLFS 2023–24 highlights a stark rural-urban disconnect and a widening literacy–employment gap, raising concerns over inclusive economic growth.

Key Trends in Report

  • Urban female literacy: 84.9%, yet FLFPR: 28%
  • Rural literacy–FLFPR gap: ~22%, Urban gap: ~57%
  • National female literacy: 74.6%, with a 33-point employment gap
  • India lies between developed (40-point gap) and developing (25-point gap) nations

Causes behind Low FLFPR

  • Most urban jobs, especially in services, lack flexibility for family responsibilities, deterring women’s sustained participation.
  • Unsafe public spaces and lack of reliable transport limit women’s access to formal work environments in cities.
  • A majority of urban women work in informal sectors with low pay and no benefits, leading to job exit during life events.
  • With 61.3% urban households being nuclear (NFHS-5), lack of crèches forces women to prioritize caregiving over employment.
  • Absence of re-entry programs or part-time opportunities leads to permanent dropout post-childbirth, creating a “care penalty.”

Implications for Equity and Economy

  • Underutilisation of half the population weakens India’s long-term productivity and growth potential weakening India’s Demographic Dividend.
  • Low female employment slows gains in child health, nutrition, education, and gender equity showing Stunted Social Development.
  • Higher incomes reinforce traditional norms, causing women to withdraw from jobs when money isn’t essential.
  • Economic exclusion reinforces patriarchal structures and denies women equal access to opportunity and dignity.

Way Forward

  • Expand anganwadis and urban crèches to support working mothers in both urban and peri-urban areas.
  • Promote part-time work, gig platforms, and remote work to align with women’s time and caregiving constraints.
  • Launch nationwide efforts to normalize shared caregiving roles and women’s right to work.
  • Invest in safe transport, women-only toilets, and creche-linked workplaces to make cities gender-inclusive.

Key Employment and Unemployment Indicators

  • LFPR: It  is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
  • WPR: It  is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
  • UR: It  is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.


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