In a significant development reflecting socio-economic shifts, the Ministry of Labour and Employment revealed that women’s participation in India’s workforce has risen sharply in recent years.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, reported a jump in the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) from 23.3 per cent in 2019-20 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24.
Despite increasing access to higher education among Indian women, the challenge remains to translate this into proportional formal employment. However, the government notes a clear move towards formalization.
Payroll data from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) indicates that nearly 27 lakh women joined the formal workforce during 2024–25 alone.
To address persistent barriers and promote gender parity in the workplace, the government is implementing a suite of initiatives. These include the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand-Up India, Mission Shakti, PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, and the Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi schemes, all aimed at skilling, financing, and empowering women in diverse sectors.
Moreover, the government is bolstering infrastructure with working women hostels and crèches in partnership with industry, as announced in the 2024–25 Union Budget. New programmes such as NAVYA are also training adolescent girls aged 16–18 for emerging and non-traditional job roles.
An advisory issued in January 2024 further emphasizes inclusive workplace policies, recommending flexible hours, paternity leave, and family-friendly practices to promote gender-balanced employment.
While India’s female LFPR still trails global averages, this multifaceted policy drive reflects a concerted effort to not only increase women’s presence in the formal workforce but to reshape workplace norms in the world’s most populous nation.
