Women's labour force participation in India doubled in 7 years: Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, announced that women's participation in the workforce has doubled over the past 7 years. He noted that this increase has coincided with a trend of women working longer hours than men in certain sectors, which he attributed to the inclusive labour policies implemented by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. He referred to this transformation as a "silent revolution," highlighting that it reshaped traditional perceptions of women’s roles in the workforce. He praised initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand-Up India, and Skill India for facilitating women’s economic advancement. Ms. Smriti Irani echoed this sentiment, noting that women in professional, scientific, and technical sectors are now logging more hours per week than men, with some working over 55 hours.

The government is also developing a new framework to enhance women’s workforce participation by addressing key challenges and extending social security benefits to women in the unorganized sector. According to a Business Standard analysis of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, self-employment among women surged to 67.4% in 2023-24, up from 51.9% in 2017-18. This figure rose from 57.7% to 73.5% in rural areas, while urban areas saw an increase from 34.7% to 42.3%. Women's labour force participation rate also climbed to 41.7% in 2023-24, compared to 23.3% in 2017-18.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.