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Revival of 80s trend in Indian economy
The feminisation of labour in contemporary India showed resemblance to the trend in 1980s.
The Indian economy is observing the feminisation of labour / Canva
A 1980s trend made a comeback in the contemporary Indian economy. Recent data showed a fall in male labour participation as compared to the rise in female participation.
Termed the ‘feminisation of labour’, this trend which mirrored patterns observed in the 1980s is characterized by an increase in female workforce participation alongside a decline in male participation.
In the 80s, the nationalisation of banks and the green revolution propelled the rural elites and urban middle class into prominence, it also led to a transition of non-farm sector workers and poorer farmers into the informal economy.
As a result there was a notable rise in female participation, driven by the flexibility and opportunities offered by informal employment.
The informal sector was attractive to a female, who juggled between home and hourly wages. This gave them liberty to choose leisure and have a comparatively flexible schedule.
Fast forward to the present day, data showed that women’s participation in the labor force increased from 27.98 percent in 2022 to 37 percent in 2023, more than the increase in male participation which only increased by a couple of points.
Reports from the McKinsey Global Institute highlighted the economic potential of increased female participation, with projections suggesting a 60 percent boost in annual GDP by 2025 if women participated at levels equal to men.
Notably, there is need for continued pursuit from governments and the civil society to ensure gender equality and that the challenges faced by the female labor force in India such as wage gaps, societal constraints and equal opportunity are addressed.
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