Why in news?
The Ministry of Labour reported that women’s workforce participation rate in India has almost doubled—from 22 percent in 2017‑18 to 40.3 percent in 2023‑24. Female unemployment fell from 5.6 percent to 3.2 percent over the same period.
What is the women’s employment rate?
Women’s employment rate refers to the proportion of women engaged in economic activities such as self‑employment, regular jobs or casual labour. It is measured by the Periodic Labour Force Survey.
Trends from 2017 to 2024
- Rising participation: The women’s workforce participation rate doubled in the last six years.
- Rural surge: Employment among rural women grew by 96 percent, while urban women’s employment rose by 43 percent.
- Shift to self‑employment: The share of women who are self‑employed climbed from 51.9 percent to 67.4 percent.
- Formal sector entry: About 1.56 crore women joined the formal workforce, and over 16 crore registered on the e‑Shram portal for informal workers.
- Entrepreneurship: Women‑led micro, small and medium enterprises doubled, and 68 percent of Mudra loans have been issued to women.
- Gender budgeting: The gender budget has increased by more than four times in the last decade.
- Start‑ups: Nearly half of Indian start‑ups now have women directors.
Importance for UPSC preparation
- Society (GS I): Understanding women’s empowerment, gender equality and the changing roles of women in society.
- Governance (GS II): Evaluating welfare schemes, gender budgeting and inclusive growth policies.
- Economy (GS III): Assessing labour reforms, entrepreneurship and support for micro‑enterprises.
Conclusion: India’s rising women’s employment rate signals progress in gender equality and economic inclusion. Continued support through targeted policies, skill development and entrepreneurship programs will sustain this momentum.