Feminine Fade-Out

Lack of work leads the reasons driving down women’s share in the workforce.

- Lola Nayar

WHY is female participation in the workforce on the decline in India? It is a conundrum that is flummoxing many. As against a 45.4 per cent med­ian female share of the work­ force in 144 countries, a study released by Pew Research Center in March 2017 had ranked India, with 25.9 per cent share, among the 10 lowest. The study was based on labour force data from 2010 to 2016. The latest National Sam­ple Survey Office (NSSO) data for 2017­ 18, yet to be officially released, shows female participation in the workforce has declined further to 23.3 per cent, as per NSSO data reported by Somesh Jha in a business daily.

The new data raises questions on why women are not participating in the workforce in greater numbers when in most examinations for higher studies or even competitive jobs they seem to outscore male counterparts. The latest NSSO data on youth (15-29 years) shows that their participation has dropped from 37.1 per cent in 2004-05 and 24.4 per cent in 2011-12 to just 16.4 per cent in 2017-18.

“The number of women applying for jobs is increasing, with more opting for higher education. But many opt not to take up a job if the job profile is not what they are seeking,” says R.P. Yadav, CMD Genius Consultant Ltd, a placement agency with over 50,000 employees on its rolls. Yadav feels that the new maternity leave provision of 26 weeks, as against the earlier provision of three months, has done much to put women candidates at a disadvantage when competing for a job against males. “Though the number of women in employment has risen, a recent trend is that a larger number don’t return to work after taking maternity leave. Around 40 per cent opt to quit, bringing down their share,” opines Yadav.