UNEQUAL WORK: EXPLAINING THE RECENT INCREASE IN FEMALE WORKERS IN RURAL INDIA

There is an unusual change that is taking place in the rural labour market in India. After a decade long decline in the female workforce participation rate (WPR), it is suddenly rising. Especially after Covid-19 years. This blog note explores three interconnected features of women’s work in rural India during 2017-2023. First, we explore the source of this increasing WPR by their activity statuses for rural India. Second, we then break down the activity statuses which shows an increase in women’s participation by the social groups of households. Third, in the post Covid rounds (2020-21 onwards) PLFS asked a specific question to the individuals those who are outside the labour force: What is the reason behind their “non-participation” in labour market. We explore this aspect in the third subsection of the note.