India is witnessing a remarkable surge in women’s participation in its workforce, a trend celebrated by the government. Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, revealed this significant development during a recent Rajya Sabha session. Responding to a query from MP Sagarika Ghose regarding women’s employment, Karandlaje presented compelling data illustrating a substantial increase in both the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women aged 15 and above.
The figures are striking: In 2023-24, the WPR reached 40.3%, a significant leap from 22.0% in 2017-18. Similarly, the LFPR climbed to 41.7%, up from 23.3% during the same period. This represents a nearly 20 percentage point increase in both key metrics over six years, indicating a positive shift in women’s economic engagement in India. These figures are based on the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey data, a reliable indicator of employment trends within the country.
Karandlaje attributed this progress to the government’s commitment to employment generation and improvements in employability. She highlighted various initiatives designed to encourage and facilitate increased female participation in the workforce. These include the integration of provisions in labor laws that ensure equal opportunities and create a supportive work environment for women. This encompasses crucial measures such as paid maternity leave, flexible working hours, and the guarantee of equal wages—all designed to remove systemic barriers.
Beyond legislative changes, the government is actively implementing schemes to boost both the female LFPR and the overall national rate. These efforts encompass extensive training programs delivered through a nationwide network of women’s industrial training institutes, national vocational training institutes, and regional vocational training institutes. The recent budget further solidified this commitment, announcing five new initiatives aimed at providing employment, skill development, and opportunities for 41 million young people over the next five years, backed by a substantial ₹2 trillion (approximately $242 billion USD) investment.
The government’s commitment extends to infrastructural support. The budget also included plans to establish working women’s hostels in collaboration with industries and the creation of creches, further enhancing the ability of women to participate actively in the workforce. These strategic investments, combined with other policy interventions, point towards a sustained effort to improve the lives and opportunities of Indian women. This remarkable growth highlights India’s progress towards gender equality in the workplace and offers a significant indication of economic development driven by increased female participation in the workforce. The continued implementation and expansion of these initiatives will be crucial in maintaining this positive momentum and fostering an inclusive and equitable economic landscape in India.
