A growth story that needs women at work

India's aspiration to become a developed country (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 is challenged by its low female work participation rate (WPR), which is among the lowest globally. The article argues that increasing female WPR is crucial for economic growth, potentially adding two percentage points to GDP for every 10-percentage-point increase in WPR. Historically, female WPR declined between 1983 and 2018 due to shifts away from agriculture and lack of non-farm job growth, despite rising educational attainment. A recent increase post-2020 is largely attributed to 'distress-driven feminisation of agriculture' and unpaid family labor, rather than robust job creation. The article highlights the concentration of growth in capital-intensive sectors and a decline in labor-intensive manufacturing jobs for women. It also points out significant regional disparities, with states like Tamil Nadu demonstrating higher female employment due to specific industrial structures and social investments, contrasting with the Hindi-belt states. The authors emphasize that gender equality in employment is essential for India's development goals.