Patterns and Determinants of Female Labour participation in Urban regions of India
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Date
2024-02-01Author
Devare, Diya Tanmay
Kulkarni, Savita
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), Pune (India)
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A low engagement of females in paid work has intrigued academicians as well as policymakers in India. The Goal 5 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 2015 aims at gender equality and female empowerment. Employment opportunities are an instrument to enhance autonomy of females not only within the household but also strengthen the position of females economically, politically and culturally. India has recorded one of the lowest ranks in the sub-index of Economic Participation of females as per the Global Gender Gap Report (GGGR), 2023. Despite urbanisation which is assumed to have equal effects on employment opportunities for both males and females, it is found that the participation of females in labour markets in urban regions is the lowest. The present work attempts to examine not only the demographic factors but also factors related to female agency that impede female labour supply and transitions of females in and out of the labour market using the Indian Human Development Surveys (IHDS) data (2004-05 & 2011-12). The findings of the study reveal that females belonging to higher income and asset groups are least likely to engage in the labour market. It is also found that major household decisions regarding finances and household chores are made by family members which indicates strong presence of social norms in urban regions as well. A weak agency of females and higher involvement in housework leads to fewer hours available for engaging in paid employment. These findings suggest that providing suitable job opportunities, a change in unfair societal norms backed with female supportive legal framework could help improve the existing situation.