Women and Employment in India: Present Scenario/ ভারতে নারী ও কর্মসংস্থান : বর্তমান প্রেক্ষাপট

Abstract

India’s landscape of women’s employment shows a mix of encouraging progress and persistent challenges. In urban areas, female labor force participation has grown by 10% between 2018 and 2024, with 28% of working-age women now engaged in paid work, yet over 89 million women remain outside the labor market—more than the population of many developed nations. Social and cultural norms, marriage, and family responsibilities still limit women’s work opportunities: by age 29, around 80% of women are married, but only 29% are employed, and married working women spend nearly three times more hours on domestic duties than unmarried ones. In rural India, women continue to drive agriculture and cottage industries—making up as much as 90% of workers in some sectors—yet overall participation has slipped from 41.5% in 2023–24 to 40% in 2025. Self-employment is on the rise, with 65% of working women engaged as entrepreneurs or in non-salaried roles. Despite government initiatives like Skill India and targeted financial and training programs, deep-rooted gender pay gaps, underrepresentation in skilled and leadership positions, inadequate workplace safety, and entrenched social attitudes hinder real parity. Closing this opportunity gap will require stronger legal enforcement, more gender-inclusive work environments, accessible childcare, and a shift in societal expectations, as women’s economic empowerment is essential not just for fairness, but for India’s overall development.