The document discusses women's participation in the Indian workforce. It notes that female labor participation in India has declined over the last 15 years, which is a puzzle compared to other South Asian countries. This decline may be correlated to stagnant secondary school enrollment and social norms. While fertility rates do not explain India's decline, participation follows a U-shape based on education levels for women but not men. The document concludes that increasing social spending on childcare and education could complement growing private sector recruitment and training of women to boost their workforce participation.

1. Women in the Indian Workforce
Rohini Somanathan
February, 2023
Women in the Indian Workforce

2. Female labor participation, 2021
Women in the Indian Workforce

3. The U-shaped hypothesis
Explanations:
demographic transition
structural transformation
technical change
social norms
Women in the Indian Workforce

4. Historical trajectories, OECD
Post-war increases tracked
economic expansion
but also social spending
Women in the Indian Workforce

5. India vs. other south-asian countries
puzzle of declining participation
over the last 15 years
Women in the Indian Workforce

6. Correlates: fertility?
India is not an outlier
Women in the Indian Workforce

7. Correlates: Education ?
stagnant secondary school
enrollment in the last decade
Women in the Indian Workforce

8. Occupational patterns: low education
agriculture and construction
dominate
women- personal services
men - transport
Women in the Indian Workforce

9. Occupational patterns: high education
women- education, medical
men- various
Women in the Indian Workforce

10. Participation by gender and education
U-shape only for women
Women in the Indian Workforce

11. With and without children
differences only for women
Women in the Indian Workforce

12. Final thoughts
On the demand side
The private sector has an important role to play in recruitment and training
But we need complementary increases in social spending on
childcare and basic education
Women in the Indian Workforce