Reaping the potential of the female workforce

News: The large-scale adoption of digital and smartphone technologies and the increased need for personal care for the sick, elderly and children have opened up employment opportunities, especially for women.

Status of Participation of Women in the Workforce of India & Comparison with other Countries

In 2019, 21% of women were either working or looking for work, compared to 32% in 2005 in India.

India’s female labour force participation (FLFP) rate is lower than some of its neighbours in South Asia such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

India’s FLFP rate is the lowest among the BRICS countries

Why Women Employment is Very important?

Demographic dividend: India’s population is among the youngest in the world. In 2020, the median age in India was about 29. Women and girls form a significant part of India’s demographic dividend.

Further, Increasing FLFP in India is crucial for economic growth, inclusive growth and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Lesson from other countries: Countries like China, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korean achieved fast-paced economic growth due to reaping of the demographic dividend.

What are the potential sectors for creating employment for women?

The care service sector: The health, education, and other personal care services are labour-intensive sectors. As per the ILO Report on Care work and Care Jobs for the Future of Decent Work: Key findings in Asia and the Pacific (2018), increased investment in the care economy has the potential to generate a total of 69 million jobs in India by 2030. For example, the child care services can be provided in office complexes through collaborative models

Digital Platforms and The Gig Economy: Due to increasing use of smartphones, the low cost of Internet and other initiatives like Digital India campaign, the work from home has increased in India. It provides job flexibility which are particularly important for women.  Digital platforms that allow remote work are, in principle, accessible to men and women in any location.

What are the suggestions to improve FLFP rate?

Closing digital accessibility gap: according to the GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report, only 25% of women owned smartphones compared to 41% of men in India in 2020. It can be significant in giving boosting women’s employment in the gig and platform sector.

Greater investment in better health and care facilities can lead to more employment opportunities for women.

Providing access to higher education (beyond secondary education): It can be done by motivating women and their families through incentives such as scholarships as well as transport and hostel facilities.

Skill training: It should be aligned to the gig, platform and care sectors as well as other emerging sectors such as those covered under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme. Online skill training can be provided. It is because they had to face constraints in physical mobility due to social norms, domestic responsibilities or concerns over safety.

Enabling women to acquire physical assets (through credit facilities, revolving funds, etc.)

Involvement of All Stakeholders: Governments, skill training partners, private firms, corporates and industry associations as well as civil society organisations all need to come together to create enabling measures for women.

Cooperative federalism: Constant dialogue and engagement with the States on action strategies will be required. It may include Inter-ministerial coordination.

Source: The post is based on article “Reaping the potential of the female workforce” published in “The Hindu” on 8^th March 2022