https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Women’s Workforce Participation Falls Again: Rural India Faces Steep Decline

Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for June 2025, women’s participation in India’s workforce has taken a noticeable downturn — particularly in rural regions.

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) Sees Decline

The overall female LFPR across all age groups dropped to 24.5% in June, down from 25.5% in May 2025.

In rural areas, the LFPR stood at 69.9%, a marginal dip from 70.2% a month earlier, reflecting the declining demand for labour in agricultural sectors. The urban female LFPR (15+ years) dropped to 36.9%, while rural women’s LFPR fell to 35.2% — highlighting a worrying trend.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above remained unchanged at 5.6%.

Read Also: From Denial to Dominance: Why July 17 is Historic for Indian Women in Civil Services

Who Is Most Affected?

Women aged 15 years and above have experienced the steepest decline in workforce participation — driven largely by reduced opportunities in informal and seasonal employment.

Rural female employment in agriculture plunged by a staggering 54.2%

Urban female employment also fell sharply by 54.8%

Women engaged in casual, seasonal, and unpaid family work have been most vulnerable.

Key Reasons Behind the Decline

Experts point to a mix of seasonal, environmental, and socio-economic factors-

  • Agricultural off-season during May–July reduces labour demand in rural areas
  • Extreme summer heatwaves hinder women’s ability to engage in outdoor work
  • Lack of transition from agriculture to better-paying construction or service sector jobs
  • Men are more likely to shift to stable non-farm jobs, while women remain tied to the informal sector

Structural Barriers Continue to Limit Women’s Workforce Entry

Other contributing factors include-

  • Rising household incomes, allowing some families to withdraw women from paid work
  • Social norms and domestic responsibilities preventing women from seeking formal employment
  • Changes in data collection methods now account for unpaid household and care work, revealing a clearer gap

What Can Be Done?

Policy experts and economists suggest multi-pronged interventions to reverse the decline and ensure more year-round, secure employment for women:

  • Skill development programs tailored for non-agricultural sectors
  • Flexible work arrangements and family-friendly policies
  • Heat-proof or indoor workspaces for climate resilience
  • Public-private partnerships to generate sustainable jobs
  • Targeted subsidies or incentives to hire women in MSMEs and service industries
  • Awareness campaigns to shift social attitudes around women’s work

Read Also: Himachal Pradesh Makes ‘Karmayogi’ Course Mandatory for IAS, IPS, & IFS Officers to Boost Skill Development

Time to Act

Stable and dignified employment for women is essential not just for gender equity, but also for strengthening India’s economic potential. As India aspires to become a $5 trillion economy, leaving half the population out of productive work could prove costly.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited AVNL 1
Leadership Updates: Salve Sandeep Recommended as Director (HR) of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited by PESB
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
RBI Deputy Governor Highlights MSMEs as Key Drivers of India’s Economic Growth, Calls for Strengthened Credit Support
Crude oil
India Boosts US Crude Oil Imports to Highest Since 2022, Steering Energy Strategy Beyond Russia
Coal-Production-resized
Govt Releases Draft Guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification to Ensure Sustainable and Safe Energy Extraction
Indian Oil Chairman
US Sanctions on Rosneft, Lukoil Prompt Indian Refiners to Rethink Russian Oil Purchases, Indian Oil Pledges Full Compliance With Global Sanctions
lVigilance+Awareness+Week+2025
BPCL Inaugurates Vigilance Awareness Week 2025, Reinforces Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Governance
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Mohan Yadav Indore Chhath Mahotsav
MP: CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Participates in Indore Chhath Mahotsav, Honors Devoted Mothers and Sisters
CM Mohan Yadav Indore sewerage project
MP: CM Mohan Yadav Lays Foundation for ₹30 Crore Sewerage Project in Indore, Boosts Inclusive Development
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT