Women’s Workforce Participation Sees Steady Growth Over Six Years

The participation of women in India’s workforce has shown significant improvement over the past six years, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Responding to a query by MP Sagarika Ghose, Karandlaje highlighted the rise in the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women aged 15 and above.

According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey data, the WPR reached 40.3% and LFPR rose to 41.7% in 2023-24, compared to 22.0% and 23.3% in 2017-18.

Defining LFPR

The LFPR represents percentage of individuals in labour force those working, seeking work, or available for work in population.

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Government Prioritizes Women’s Employment

“Employment generation coupled with improving employability is the priority of the government,” Karandlaje stated in her written response. She outlined various initiatives undertaken by the government to enhance female workforce participation.

Policies And Provisions For Equal Opportunity

The minister emphasized that the government has incorporated several provisions in labour laws to ensure equal opportunities and a conducive work environment for women. Key measures include:

• Paid maternity leave
• Flexible working hours
• Equal wages for equal work

These efforts aim to create a supportive framework for women in the workforce.

Skill Development And Training Initiatives

In addition to policy reforms, the government is implementing multiple schemes to boost women’s employability and overall LFPR.

• A network of Women Industrial Training Institutes, National Vocational Training Institutes, and Regional Vocational Training Institutes is providing specialized training to female workers.
• Five new initiatives announced in this year’s budget aim to facilitate employment, skill development, and opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over five years, supported by a central outlay of ₹2 trillion.

Additional Measures to Support Working Women

The budget also introduced:

• Working Women Hostels: In collaboration with industries to provide safe accommodation.
• Creches: To support working mothers and enhance their workforce participation.
• Policy Interventions: Focused on fostering a balanced and inclusive labour ecosystem.