The 2025 global gender report, published by the World Economic Forum at the beginning of this month, ranks India at 131 of 148 countries on its gender gap index. One of the metrics he considers to be a report is a different gender difference in the degree of workforce (LFPR) or the share of the population that works or actively seeks work. For India, this shows 76.4% in men and 35.1% for women or differentials of 41.3 percentage points. In recent decades, government data have shown greater participation of women in the workforce, but the quality of work – and in expansion, earnings – concerns concern.
The Indian woman LFPR was lower, whether compared to neighbors, such as Sri Lanka or with rapidly growing countries in Asia or with developed regions. LFPR of poorer countries, such as Bangladesh, have increased over India in recent years. At the same time, the Indian woman LFPR has increased in recent years.
The increase is more in rural areas compared to urban areas. One of the weakest aspects of the Indian labor market in the last decade seemed to have finally showed signs of improvement. The share of the female population, which deals with work other than home and home care, began to rise. For the population segment, which has so far participated in a large extent in unpaid housework, it was potentially the main step. However, the basis of the increase in the participation of women in the labor market is deeper concerns about the quality of work generation and how it is captured.
Work without money
Regarding the type of employment, the largest increase in women’s workers was self -employed. This covers a wide range of income and economic classes – from women who control their own companies to those operating Kirana trade. It is important that the self-employed segment now also includes women who do unpaid home work-for example, in a family trade in Kirana-A, increase questions about the quality of employment.
In the years 2023-24, the self-employed women in these two categories were approximately 66% of workers compared to about 49% in 2017–18. On the other hand, the number of women who are paid has increased by approximately 10 million during this period. However, the share of female workers fell by approximately 5.5 percentage points-24.3% in 2017–18 to 18.7% in 2023-24.
Salary benefits
While self -employment is often appreciated in terms of women’s business, the reality is that the vast majority of self -employment, especially in women, is of low quality in terms of earnings. In the years 2023-24, the average monthly incomes of self-employed were lower than even those who work in occasional work and much lower than women who work as paid employees.
Regardless of gender, they are paid employees who earn most among three categories of workers. The reality of “business”, for men and women, is one of the highly uncertain, low-paid work-for example, the operation of a small shop or involvement in the work. In the current economy of the “concert”, even those who act as couriers or food supply workers are considered “self -employed”. Generally, they do not apply to minimal labor legislation. On the other hand, paid low -end work is more true.
Bankruptcy
In 2023-24, only 18.7% of women were paid. This picture exceeds 30% only in eight countries or trade unions: in the descending order of the share, Chandigarh, Delhi, Puduchherry, Goa, Kerala, Pandjab, Haryan and Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, there are two populations, but poorer northern states, namely Bihar (5.5%) and Uttar Pradesh (7.9%).
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are also among the 22 countries that have seen the share of paying among women women between 2017-18 to 2023-24. Even in a rich state, such as Delhi, there was a decline in women in paid jobs by 7 percentage points. The states and territories of trade unions that have seen an increase in the share of paid women are Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Haryan. The big challenge of the labor market that faces the government is to speed up not only absolute numbers, but also the share of better jobs. Pay work can be boring, but for now they are at least better than alternatives.
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(Tagstotranslate) report on global gender gaps 2025
