We live in different times. To think that women were once confined to their homes would be unimaginable to today’s generation. Things have changed radically, yet it cannot be credited much as change. A recent World Bank data highlights the same. There has been a drastic drop in women’s participation in workforce over the years. India’s economy has grown almost more than 10 per cent since 1990. Women in workforce who formed close to 30 per cent then, has now fallen to 19 per cent in 2021. This fall is much steep in the last 15 years and it coincides with the time that the economy grew over 4-times.
While one watches the society through plain eyes, this period seems to be the one where we get to see highly ambitious and career oriented women. There have been several trailblazers who have raze their own paths. Today, there are much wider opportunities and flexible working styles. In such a situation, this data is quite a concern. It must be addressed effectively and immediately. The reason being, women would need to play a larger role to propel higher economic growth. If this trend of lesser participation with a growing economy continues, India will lose its demographic dividend advantage.
Will we miss the bus?
The demographic dividend window for India opened during 2005 and this period, between 2020 to 2040 is the golden period with the peak
occurring at about 2031. This needs to be harvested effectively. And for that, women’s participation plays a major role. If we miss this bus, by 2050, China which is currently in the downward trend with a lesser population in working group, would have almost the same amount of people working, as India. This means, we have failed to use this advantage.
There are several reasons that contribute to this trend. One being, today, the new business model offers various working styles and many women have taken to freelancing which offers better work-life balance. At the same time today’s women prefer to educate themselves more and spend more time on that, which delays their entry to workforce.
Marriage changes the game
The elephant in the room is marriage. Vidya Mahambare, Professor and Director – Research, Great Lakes Institute of Management points to an interesting data comparison. “When we consider two age groups: 18-23 years and 24 to 29 years, it shows that now marriages happen mostly after 24 years. When we compare employment to marriage, it turns out that urban single women in the second age group are better employed (44. Per cent). But once these women are married, the percentage falls (32.9 per cent) and after a child it steeps even lower (18.9 per cent). In the rural scenario, there is a drop of women in workforce after marriage (27.3 per cent) but it is not as drastic as in urban areas. Yet another interesting aspect is even after child birth, in rural areas, most women continue in the workforce (27.1 per cent). They do not drop, similar to their urban counterparts.”
This throws light on the importance of a social structure. In rural areas, women have extended families or they would be employed in agricultural sector which offers a adjustable environment to child care. In urban area, this set up is very expensive.
The reduced women participation to economic growth highlights another aspect. A growing economy indicates a shift in pattern from agriculture, towards manufacturing and services. This is a major concern as agriculture hosts a huge women workforce. This shift has to be handled cautiously to incorporate these women to other livelihoods.
S Krishnan, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Govt of Tamil Nadu, pointed to how Tamil Nadu is addressing this. “To absorb the workforce from agriculture during this transition period, we are trying to bring non leather footwear industries, garments and other such industries to rural areas. They will absorb the agricultural workforce and provide better employment to them. During this shift, agriculture will move towards a more advanced sector where post-harvesting technologies will play a major role.”
Data is very clear that women are dropping off due to various reasons and at the same time, government must take cognisance and create an atmosphere that is conducive to attract them. Wait ahead for IE’s 56th Annual issue on the theme Women in Workforce. It will be released on 01 April 2023 and will highlight the experience of women achievers from different fields and their suggestions to improve the participation of their own tribe.
