Female workforce participation shows 'major' increase since 2017, finds PM-EAC study

The study claimed that the growth in female participation can be attributed to government-led initiatives in the last 10 years, which targeted rural women.

A research has found that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has “recorded a major increase” across the country between 2017-18 and 2022-23.

The study, released by Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC) and authored by Dr Shamika Ravi and Dr Mudit Kapoor, claimed that the growth has been substantial in rural areas. It said that rural female LFPR ‘rose’ to 41.5 percent from 24.6 percent, recording a 69 percent growth, while urban female LFPR “increased modestly” from 20.4 percent to 25.4 percent, reflecting a 25 percent growth.

“This marks a significant turnaround, as female LFPR had been declining steadily from 2004 to 2017,” the study said.

The report further said that findings are crucial given “extensive discourse” on the decline in India’s female LFPR between 2004–05 and 2014–15 and “little attention” on the subsequent surge. “Recent research also dispels criticism that this growth is driven by unpaid labour—data indicates otherwise.”

The study claimed that the growth in female participation can be attributed to government-led initiatives in the last 10 years, which targeted rural women.

“Key programmes include Mudra loans, the 'Drone Didi' scheme, and the mobilisation of self-help groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, among other significant efforts,” the study said.

The study also claimed that poorer and North-eastern states have seen significant growth in participation, especially states such as Jharkhand, Bihar and Nagaland.

The report also found that married women showed “higher participation” compared to unmarried women.