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General Studies 3 >> Economy

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FEMALE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE (FLPR)

FEMALE LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE (FLPR)

 
 
1. Context
 
Women contribute around 63 per cent of the agricultural labour force in India, yet they lack access to key resources such as land ownership, finance, and advanced farming technologies. 
 
2. What is the female labour force participation rate (FLPR)?
 
  • The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLPR) is a crucial economic indicator that measures the percentage of women who are either employed or actively seeking work in relation to the total working-age female population. This metric helps assess the extent to which women are integrated into the workforce and their role in economic development.
  • To calculate FLPR, one considers both employed women and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. This figure is then divided by the total number of working-age women (typically aged 15 and above) and expressed as a percentage. A high FLPR suggests that a large proportion of women are engaged in economic activities, whereas a low FLPR indicates limited workforce participation.
  • FLPR is significant as it reflects not only gender equality in employment but also the overall economic productivity of a country. When more women participate in the workforce, economic output rises, and household incomes improve. Moreover, a higher FLPR is often linked to greater social progress, as it reflects better access to education and employment opportunities for women.
  • In India, the female labour force participation rate has seen considerable fluctuations over the years. The highest recorded FLPR was 40.8% in 2004-05, after which it witnessed a sharp decline.
  • Various factors contributed to this trend, including societal norms that discourage female employment, lack of job opportunities in the formal sector, and a rise in household incomes that reduced the economic necessity for women to work. Additionally, many women opted to pursue higher education, further delaying their entry into the workforce.
  • The lack of sufficient opportunities in industries such as manufacturing and services limits the potential for further growth in FLPR. Addressing these challenges requires policy interventions, such as skill development programs, improved childcare support, and greater access to formal employment opportunities for women.
  • Thus, while the rise in FLPR in recent years is encouraging, sustained efforts are needed to ensure that women's participation in the labour force is not only increased but also leads to better economic and social outcomes
 
3. Statistics on female labour force participation rate
 
  • India's female workforce participation rate peaked at 40.8% in 2004-05 but has experienced a decline in the years since. However, beginning in 2017, the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLPR) has shown a gradual upward trend, reversing the previous decline.
  • This increase has become particularly evident in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. In rural areas, FLPR rose from 41.5% in 2022-23 to 47.6% in 2023-24, while in urban areas, it increased from 25.4% to 28% over the same period.
  • The resurgence in FLPR can be attributed to the economic recovery post-lockdown, which encouraged many women who were previously not part of the workforce to seek employment.
  • Additionally, economic hardships have also played a role, compelling more women to enter the labour market in search of income.
  • The increasing presence of women in India’s labour force, often referred to as the feminisation of the workforce, requires a more in-depth analysis. The recent rise in FLPR has been largely driven by a surge in self-employment, particularly in agriculture.
  • State-wise census data suggests that in regions where women’s participation in the workforce has increased, it is primarily due to their growing involvement in agricultural activities.
  • This trend underscores a significant concern—the limited availability of non-agricultural job opportunities for women. In rural areas, employment prospects for women remain largely restricted to agricultural work, highlighting the lack of diverse and stable employment options in other sectors
 
4. Feminisation of agriculture
 
  • This phenomenon results in the feminisation of agriculture, a concept that economic studies define in two primary ways. Firstly, it signifies a growing share of agricultural work being performed by women, encompassing their expanding roles as smallholder cultivators or casual agricultural wage laborers.
  • Secondly, feminisation of agriculture extends beyond labour participation to women’s control and ownership of agricultural resources, as well as their involvement in key decision-making processes. This includes land ownership, land rights, and authority over farm-related choices, such as crop selection and the use of agricultural inputs like fertilizers.
  • Several underlying factors have contributed to this shift. The structural transformation of India’s economy has led to a declining contribution of agriculture to the country’s GDP, with employment shifting towards the service sector.
  • Additionally, economic distress in rural areas has prompted men to migrate in search of non-agricultural employment, leaving women to take on increased responsibilities in farming.
  • Other contributing factors include declining agricultural productivity, rising input costs, climate-related risks, and limited employment opportunities in rural areas. Furthermore, as rural youth—especially those with formal education—aspire for non-farm jobs, male migration from villages has accelerated, placing a greater burden on women to manage agricultural activities
 
 
5. Land Ownership and Gender disparity
 
  • The 2005 report by the National Commission on Farmers highlighted a growing trend of women engaging in agricultural activities, including land management and assisting in farm operations.
  • Estimates suggest that women contribute nearly 80% of agricultural labor in India and constitute over 42% of the total agricultural workforce. Recent PLFS 2023-24 data further reveals that 76.95% of rural women are employed in agriculture, underscoring their significant role in the sector.
  • Despite their extensive contributions, women in agriculture remain largely unrecognized. Findings from the 2015-16 Agriculture Census indicate that while 73% of rural female workers are involved in farming, they control only 11.72% of the total cultivated land.
  • This stark contrast highlights gender inequality in land ownership and decision-making. Moreover, most female-owned landholdings are small and marginal, a consequence of historical disparities in land distribution.
  • In India, women can obtain land through inheritance, gifts, purchases, or government allocations. However, these avenues often do not guarantee equal access, as financial limitations make it harder for women to buy land, leaving inheritance as a primary means of ownership. Nonetheless, social and cultural barriers continue to hinder their ability to inherit and manage land independently.
  • A relevant example is the 2017 land distribution initiative in Uttar Pradesh, where 331 landless households in Mirzapur district were granted land titles. In Sirsi village, 80 titles were distributed, of which only eight went to single women, while in Karkad, out of 251 titles, just 16 were allotted to single women.
  • This means that only 7% of the total land titles were allocated to single women, reflecting the persistent gender gap in land ownership. Studies emphasize that securing land rights is crucial for women’s financial stability and their ability to make independent economic decisions
 
6. Gender equality in agriculture's journey
 
  • It is often emphasized that a woman’s participation in paid employment should not automatically be equated with empowerment. Many women experience a “double burden”, where they must juggle paid work alongside unpaid domestic duties and caregiving responsibilities. Similarly, merely being engaged in agricultural activities does not necessarily lead to their empowerment.
  • India’s agrarian economy has been facing financial distress, with declining agricultural incomes. As a result, women’s increased participation in farming may not translate into economic empowerment, especially in the absence of stable non-agricultural job opportunities. Studies also suggest that women have limited decision-making authority over crucial aspects such as fertilizer use, household assets, and alternative sources of livelihood.
  • The concept of feminisation of agriculture is frequently discussed alongside the feminisation of poverty and agrarian distress.
  • As men migrate to urban areas or other sectors for better employment opportunities, women are often left with no choice but to take up farming, which is typically perceived as a less profitable livelihood option.
  • Additionally, gender disparities in land ownership prevent many female farmers from accessing credit, financial resources, and government assistance. Without legal ownership of land, they struggle to qualify for schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card or the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
  • The widespread perception of farmers as predominantly male further contributes to the marginalization of women in the agricultural sector.
  • Agriculture involves more than just sowing and harvesting—it requires investment, resource management, and decision-making.
  • Therefore, achieving gender equity in agriculture necessitates policies that prioritize women’s inclusion, equitable land distribution, improved access to agricultural technology, and gender-sensitive climate adaptation strategies.
  • Recognizing women as central stakeholders in agriculture will be key to their economic empowerment and long-term progress
 
7. Way Forward
 
Addressing these issues requires a multi-dimensional approach that ensures equal land rights, financial inclusion, access to technology, and policy frameworks that recognize women as key agricultural stakeholders. Empowering female farmers is not just about increasing their participation in agriculture but also about providing them with the resources, rights, and recognition needed to transform their roles from laborers to decision-makers and landowners. By implementing gender-responsive agricultural policies, improving access to credit, and breaking societal stereotypes, India can move toward a more equitable and sustainable agrarian economy where women play a central and empowered role
 
 
 
For Prelims: Periodic Labour Force Survey, National Sample Survey Office, labour force participation rate, worker population ratio
For Mains:
1. Examine the changing nature of employment in India, as reflected in the increasing share of self-employment and the declining proportion of regular salaried jobs. Discuss the implications of this shift for the quality and sustainability of employment. (250 Words)

 

Previous Year Questions

1. Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). (UPPSC 2019)
Assertion (A): The labour force participation rate is falling sharply in recent years for females in India.
Reason (R): The decline in labour force participation rate is due to improved family income and an increase in education.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Codes:
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
B. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true
 
 
2. Which of the following statements about the employment situation in India according to the periodic Labour Force Survey 2017-18 is/are correct? (UPSC CAPF 2020)
1. Construction sector gave employment to nearly one-tenth of the urban male workforce in India
2. Nearly one-fourth of urban female workers in India were working in the manufacturing sector
3. One-fourth of rural female workers in India were engaged in the agriculture sector
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 2 only       B. 1 and 2 only            C. 1 and 3 only           D. 1, 2 and 3
 
 
3. Disguised unemployment generally means (UPSC 2013)

(a) large number of people remain unemployed
(b) alternative employment is not available
(c) marginal productivity of labour is zero
(d) productivity of workers is low

 

4.  Assertion (A): Workers - population ratio in India is low in contrast to that in developed countries.

Reason (R): Rapid growth of population, low female worker population rate and omission of unpaid family workers lead to low worker-population ratio.

Choose the correct answer: (Telangana Police SI Mains 2018)

A. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
B. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
C. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a correct explanation of (A).
D. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Answers: 1-C, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D

Mains

1. Most of the unemployment in India is structural in nature. Examine the methodology adopted to compute unemployment in the country and suggest improvements. (UPSC 2023)

 
 
Source: Indianexpress

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