More Women Engaged in Manufacturing Activities in India: MoSPI Report

In metropolitan India, a higher percentage of female workers than male workers are engaged in manufacturing and other service industries. As per a recent report, women still hold a dominant position in the agriculture industry in rural areas and are increasingly involved in manufacturing activities in urban areas.

In the latest report released by India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), more women in India are now engaged in the manufacturing and service sectors. According to the “Women and Men in India, 2023″ report, in rural areas, women overwhelmingly dominate the agricultural sector, with 76.2 percent of rural female workers involved, compared to 49.1 percent of rural male workers.

The report bases its findings on data from the annual Periodic Labour Force Surveys (PLFS). An economy’s labor force participation rate (LFPR), which promotes better and more steady growth, is a crucial indicator.

Pan-India workforce engagement

The percentage of all persons of working age who are employed or looking for employment is shown by the LFPR. The rate does not include people like students, retirees, housewives, and those who are neither employed nor seeking employment.

Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), July 2022- June 2023, NSO

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It can also be seen that in the agricultural sector and other services, more women were engaged as compared to men, whereas in construction, trade, hotels and restaurants, transport, storage, & communications, more men were engaged than women.

In India’s urban areas, a greater proportion of female workers, around 64 percent, are noted to be engaged in services and manufacturing activities, while a major proportion of male workers are engaged in trade, hotel and restaurant services, and other services.

Source: Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS), NSO

*Usual status comprises two economic activities. ‘PS’ which is the principal status where an individual is engaged in economic activity consistently and ‘SS’ which is the subsidiary status where the same economic activities are performed in uneven periods.

Source: Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS), NSO

In terms of employment status, a greater percentage of women than men are in regular wage or salary employment in the urban areas of the country. However, 43.1 percent of rural women were helpers in household enterprises, compared to just 11 percent of men.

Hurdles for women’s workforce participation

Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), July 2022- June 2023, NSO

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The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) serves as a crucial indicator for evaluating a country’s employment landscape, offering insights into the proportion of the population actively engaged in the production of goods and services. In the fiscal year 2022-23, the WPR for the male population was 54 in rural areas and 55.6 in urban areas, while for the female population, it was significantly lower at 30 in rural areas and 18.7 in urban areas. The disparity between men and women remains pronounced, as indicated by the notable differences in the WPRs.

In terms unemployment, as of 2022-23, the rural female unemployment rate has consistently been lower than that of males. Conversely, in urban areas, female unemployment is higher than male unemployment.

Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey, NSO

**Usual principal status and subsidiary status of employment (PS+SS)

The report findings could suggest that the workforce dynamics are complex as there are more job opportunities accessible to women in agriculture and informal sectors in rural areas. Unemployment is highest among urban females aged 15-29, followed by urban males in the same age group.

Source: Time Use Survey 2019**

**Time use surveys capture the allocation of time to various activities, whether paid or unpaid.  It serves to measure this hidden aspect of women’s contributions. The significance of time use statistics is underscored by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target.

The data underscores that a significant number of working-age women spend over six hours daily on unpaid services, potentially restricting their access to paid employment. Women not in the labor force invest the most time in unpaid domestic services, hinting at a possible impediment to their involvement in paid work.

Possible ways to increase women’s participation in paid activities

The participation of women in the labor force and their ability to secure decent work are crucial components of an inclusive and sustainable development process. Despite progress, women in India still encounter numerous barriers when entering the labor market and seeking access to quality employment.

The latest report released by MoSPI suggests that the substantial disparity between male and female representation in the workforce can be mitigated through strategic measures, such as the implementation of improved incentive mechanisms, targeted training programs, job reservations, and the establishment of safe workplace environments.

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