PLFS (Conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation since 2017-18) aims to estimate key employment and unemployment indicators.
Key Trends in Women Labor Participation:
- Increased female employment indicators(Between 2017-18 and 2023-24):
- WPR for Women : Doubled from 22% in 2017-18 to 40% in 2023-24;
- LFPR for Women: Increased from ~23% to ~41%;
- Unemployment Rate: Reduced from ~5.6% to 3.2%.
- Rural Female LFPR : Increased significantly by 23 percentage points between 2017-18 and 2023-24 (~25% in 2017-18 and ~48% in 2023-24)
- Upward trend of educated women (post-graduate and above) in workforce : Increase from 35 percent in 2017-18 to 40 percent in 2023-24.
- Earnings Growth for self-employed: Female self-employed workers saw steady growth in earnings.
Key Indicators used in PLFS
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Barriers in Women Labor Force Participation:
- Social : Child care/personal commitments in home making; Fertility rates and the age of marriage;
- Economic : lack of employment opportunities; Effect of household income on participation;
- Education : Continuing focus on higher qualifications;
- Other: Poor infrastructure, rural residence, and inadequate care and support systems etc.
Government initiatives promoting Women LFPR:
- Legislative Actions: Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017; The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 etc.
- Schemes: Skill India Mission; Stand up India; National Rural Livelihood Mission etc.
