What's New

FOCUS ON FEMALE EMPLOYMENT TO COUNTER UNEMPLOYMENT

Syllabus:

GS 2:

• Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections of the population.

GS 3:

• Women and Employment.

Why in the News?

The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections highlighted issues like unemployment and inflation, emphasizing the need for targeted employment strategies, particularly for women. The India Employment Report (IER) 2024 further underscores the importance of addressing these challenges to improve economic conditions and family welfare in India.

Source: TH

Overview  and Statistics of Female Employment:

• Major Issue: Difficulty in obtaining jobs and rising inflation significantly influenced the outcomes of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, as highlighted by the Lokniti-CSDS pre-poll survey.
• Employment Report: The India Employment Report (IER) 2024 revealed that unemployment increased from 2% in 2000 to 5.8% in 2019, with a slight reduction to 4.1% in 2022.
• Participation Rates: The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) dropped from 61.6% in 2000 to 49.8% in 2018, then rebounded to 55.2% in 2022, reflecting variable engagement levels.
• Rural Opportunities: Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose significantly from 24.6% in 2018 to 36.6% in 2022 in rural India, indicating a substantial untapped employment potential.
• Global Comparison: India’s female LFPR is notably lower than the global average of 53.4% (2019), underscoring the urgent need for targeted strategies to boost female employment.
• Economic Potential: High rates of unpaid family labour for women, especially in rural regions, highlight a significant opportunity for formal employment initiatives to enhance economic conditions.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Gendered Employment Choices: Women often prefer traditional, home-based work due to flexibility, despite low income, making job creation in these areas challenging.
• Urban-Rural Disparities: Female LFPR increased more in rural areas than urban areas, indicating a lack of suitable job opportunities for women in cities.
• Limited Options: Many women remain in traditional occupations due to the unavailability of alternative job opportunities, necessitating diversified employment strategies.
• Enterprise Barriers: Limited access to capital and restrictive social norms hinder women’s ability to start their enterprises, particularly in urban settings.
• Traditional Occupations: Society accepts traditional occupations for women as they conform to gender norms, but these jobs often do not challenge regressive gender roles.
• Empowerment Potential: Engaging women in professional environments outside their homes increases their agency and empowers them to challenge restrictive gender norms.

Strategies for Improvement

• Collectivisation Benefits: Organizing women into self-help groups (SHGs) and federations can enhance skills, market access, and income, supporting traditional occupations.
• Market Access: Ensuring market access for women can empower them economically, allowing them to bypass restrictive gender norms and reduce dependency on male family members.
• Innovative Opportunities: Developing new job opportunities in previously neglected sectors can avoid competition with male-dominated jobs and boost female employment.
• Rural Employment: Expanding irrigation and water access in rural areas can increase women’s participation in farming, pisciculture, and other agricultural activities.
• Urban Employment: Enhancing workplace facilities like safety measures, toilets, and crèches in small and medium enterprises can improve women’s working conditions.
• Policy Support: Public policies should focus on providing resources, improving market access, and supporting SHG initiatives to enhance female employment and empowerment.

Impact of Higher Women Labour Participation on Society

• Economic Growth: Boosts GDP and economic prosperity by fully utilizing the female workforce, enhancing overall productivity.
• Poverty Reduction: Provides income-generating opportunities that can elevate households out of poverty, improving living standards and well-being.
• Human Capital Development: Educated, economically active women positively influence their children’s education and health, creating intergenerational benefits.
• Gender Equality and Empowerment: Challenges traditional gender roles, promoting equality and empowering women with greater decision-making power and autonomy.
• Fertility and Population Growth: Increased labor participation correlates with lower fertility rates, leading to sustainable population growth through better education and healthcare access.
• Reduced Gender-Based Violence: Economic empowerment strengthens women’s bargaining power, reducing their vulnerability to gender-based violence and abuse.
• Labour Market Efficiency: Addresses skill shortages and imbalances, ensuring a more efficient allocation of talent and resources

Need for a Better Work Environment:

• Focus on Safety: A safe working environment with basic facilities is crucial for women’s participation in the workforce, impacting their empowerment significantly.
• Policy Mandates: Public policies should mandate workplace safety and basic amenities, especially in small- and medium-sized manufacturing or business units.
• Long-term Strategy: Developing a better work environment for women requires a long-term strategy, including public policy support and workplace improvements.
• Family Income: Enhancing women’s work opportunities at or near home can significantly increase family income and improve women’s positions within the family.
• Economic Resilience: Women’s participation in the workforce has proven to reduce economic vulnerability and improve resilience, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Income Opportunities: Strategies focusing on female LFPR improvement would boost overall employment and family income, benefiting both rural and urban areas.
• Empowerment Impact: Participation in work outside the home has a significant impact on women’s empowerment, helping them achieve greater economic independence and social mobility.
• Flexibility in Work Hours: Offering flexible work hours and remote working options can help women balance work and family responsibilities, improving their participation in the workforce.
• Basic Amenities: Provision of basic facilities like clean toilets and crèches is crucial, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, to support women’s employment.
• Supportive Infrastructure: Developing supportive infrastructure, such as reliable transportation and safe commuting options, is essential for encouraging women to work outside their homes.
• Collective Efforts: Promoting collective efforts like self-help groups and women’s federations can provide support networks, enhance skills, and improve market access for women workers.

Conclusion

Focusing on increasing female labour force participation, especially through traditional occupations and improved workplace conditions, can significantly enhance employment rates and economic stability. Public policies should prioritize creating supportive environments for women, addressing both practical and strategic gender needs for holistic empowerment.

Source:The Hindu

Mains Practice Question:

Discuss the significance of increasing female labour force participation in addressing unemployment and improving economic stability in India. What are the major challenges and opportunities, and how can public policies be tailored to support this initiative?

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/empower-women-for-lasting-prosperity/