Explore our annual collection of factsheets for state-wise analysis of women’s workforce participation in India. Using data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), these factsheets highlight trends in female labor force participation, employment types, and earnings gaps. They provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and the public on the evolving landscape of women’s work in India.
Women's Economic
Empowerment
Women's Economic
Empowerment
IWWAGE’s work on women’s economic empowerment focuses on understanding and addressing the structural barriers that shape women’s participation in India’s labour market. At the centre of this agenda is the persistently low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), which reflects deep-rooted challenges related to access to decent work, social norms, and labour market institutions.
IWWAGE’s work in this area focuses on:
Evidence generation for policy action
Analysing national and state-level data to understand women’s employment patterns, sectoral and occupational distribution, and barriers to labour market entry and continuity.
Improving measurement and visibility of women’s work
Improved definitions and measurement of work, with a strong emphasis on recognising unpaid, home-based, and care work that remains undercounted in conventional labour statistics.
Shaping the future of women’s work
Examining women’s participation in a rapidly digitising economy, including platform and hybrid work models, to assess emerging opportunities, risks, and forms of precarity.
Strengthening agency and protection
Exploring women’s access to digital skills, agency, bargaining power, and social protection within evolving labour market arrangements.
Together, this body of work highlights that meaningful women’s economic empowerment requires better data, recognition of all forms of work, and the proactive shaping of labour market institutions so that women’s work is visible, valued, and protected.
Learning note
Gig Study: Summary and Recommendations
- August , 2020
- Ruchika Chaudhary | Soumya Kapoor Mehta
The rise of India’s gig economy, driven by the proliferation of over 300 digital platforms in the last five years, is transforming the concept of work. With one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in South Asia (24.5%), digital labour platforms offer a potential solution, providing flexible work opportunities for women. However, gig workers face challenges such as income instability, lack of social protection, and safety concerns. This factsheet explores the opportunities and challenges of India’s growing gig economy, particularly its potential to increase women’s participation in the workforce.
The rise of India’s gig economy, driven by the proliferation of over 300 digital platforms in the last five years, is transforming the concept of work. With one of the lowest female labour force participation rates in South Asia (24.5%), digital labour platforms offer a potential solution, providing flexible work opportunities for women. However, gig workers face challenges such as income instability, lack of social protection, and safety concerns. This factsheet explores the opportunities and challenges of India’s growing gig economy, particularly its potential to increase women’s participation in the workforce.
Learning note
Impact Of Covid-19 On Working Women
- August , 2020
- Soumya Kapoor Mehta
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only deepened economic uncertainty in India but also intensified the challenges faced by working women across urban and rural areas. Even before the crisis, concerns around women’s workforce participation, pay parity, and career progression were prominent. The pandemic has further exposed vulnerabilities-especially in sectors where women are overrepresented and increasingly seen as dispensable. Now, urgent questions arise: Will the situation worsen for working women? How has the pandemic affected women in both urban and rural areas? Which sectors have made women dispensable? How can we ensure women are not further marginalised during these unprecedented times? This analysis explores the gendered impact of the pandemic on employment, examines key data trends, and raises critical questions about ensuring women are not further marginalised. It also outlines measures to foster recovery and resilience, with a focus on sustaining women’s livelihoods and advancing gender equality in the post-pandemic economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only deepened economic uncertainty in India but also intensified the challenges faced by working women across urban and rural areas. Even before the crisis, concerns around women’s workforce participation, pay parity, and career progression were prominent. The pandemic has further exposed vulnerabilities-especially in sectors where women are overrepresented and increasingly seen as dispensable. Now, urgent questions arise: Will the situation worsen for working women? How has the pandemic affected women in both urban and rural areas? Which sectors have made women dispensable? How can we ensure women are not further marginalised during these unprecedented times? This analysis explores the gendered impact of the pandemic on employment, examines key data trends, and raises critical questions about ensuring women are not further marginalised. It also outlines measures to foster recovery and resilience, with a focus on sustaining women’s livelihoods and advancing gender equality in the post-pandemic economy.
Factsheet
Female Labour Force Participation Rate and Earnings Gap in India
- July , 2020
- Anjana Thampi, Sona Mitra
Explore our annual collection of factsheets for state-wise analysis of women’s workforce participation in India. Using data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), these factsheets highlight trends in female labor force participation, employment types, and earnings gaps. They provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and the public on the evolving landscape of women’s work in India.
Explore our annual collection of factsheets for state-wise analysis of women’s workforce participation in India. Using data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), these factsheets highlight trends in female labor force participation, employment types, and earnings gaps. They provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and the public on the evolving landscape of women’s work in India.
Learning note
Policies and Programmes For Women and Girls
- July , 2020
- Nidhi Gyan Pandey
Bihar faces significant challenges in health, education, and gender development. With low female literacy and the country’s lowest female workforce participation, the state has launched initiatives like the ‘Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana,’ improving school attendance and reducing dropout rates. The ‘Saat Nischay’ programme focuses on empowering women through schemes targeting health, education, and infrastructure. While these efforts show promise, more evaluations are needed to assess their impact on women’s development and social protection.
Bihar faces significant challenges in health, education, and gender development. With low female literacy and the country’s lowest female workforce participation, the state has launched initiatives like the ‘Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana,’ improving school attendance and reducing dropout rates. The ‘Saat Nischay’ programme focuses on empowering women through schemes targeting health, education, and infrastructure. While these efforts show promise, more evaluations are needed to assess their impact on women’s development and social protection.
Learning note
Female Labour Force Participation Rate and Earnings Gap in India
- July , 2020
- Anjana Thampi | Sona Mitra
Welcome to our annual repository of factsheets, where we present a detailed analysis of women’s workforce participation across India. Each year, we gather state-wise data from surveys such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to explore trends in female labour force participation, employment types, and earnings gaps. These factsheets provide a snapshot of the economic and social factors affecting women’s employment, offering valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and the general public. Dive into the data and discover the evolving landscape of women’s work in India
Welcome to our annual repository of factsheets, where we present a detailed analysis of women’s workforce participation across India. Each year, we gather state-wise data from surveys such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to explore trends in female labour force participation, employment types, and earnings gaps. These factsheets provide a snapshot of the economic and social factors affecting women’s employment, offering valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and the general public. Dive into the data and discover the evolving landscape of women’s work in India
Factsheet
Trends in Female Labour and Workforce Participation – Karnataka
- April , 2020
- Aneek Choudhary , Bidisha Mondal
Karnataka, despite being India’s IT hub, has a lower female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) than the national average. While women’s literacy exceeds 68%, many are engaged in unpaid household work or casual labour. Recent developments, like the ‘Shakti’ scheme, have positively impacted FLFPR by providing safe and affordable transportation, leading to increased workforce participation. However, disparities remain, as highlighted by the PLFS 2023-24 survey. This factsheet explores the trends, challenges, and policy implications affecting women’s participation in Karnataka’s labour market.
Karnataka, despite being India’s IT hub, has a lower female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) than the national average. While women’s literacy exceeds 68%, many are engaged in unpaid household work or casual labour. Recent developments, like the ‘Shakti’ scheme, have positively impacted FLFPR by providing safe and affordable transportation, leading to increased workforce participation. However, disparities remain, as highlighted by the PLFS 2023-24 survey. This factsheet explores the trends, challenges, and policy implications affecting women’s participation in Karnataka’s labour market.