It found that 12.5 crore educated women remain outside the workforce, and 60 percent of female graduates opt out of paid employment.
India’s Female Paid Employment Lowest in G20, Must Reach 60% by 2047: Axis Bank
India currently has the lowest female participation in paid employment among G20 economies, with many working women engaged primarily in agriculture, self-employment, or unpaid labor, according to an Axis Bank study released on Monday.
Titled ‘The Missing Half: Women and India’s Growth Challenge,’ the study surveyed nearly 11,000 educated women across 42 cities. It found that 12.5 crore educated women remain outside the workforce, and 60 percent of female graduates opt out of paid employment.
To achieve a “developed India” by 2047, total workforce participation must rise from the current 47 percent to 60 percent over the next 25 years. Women’s participation will be decisive in reaching this target.
Key barriers identified include:
- Safety and commuting concerns, cited by 61 percent of respondents
- Career interruptions due to marriage or motherhood
- Workplace discrimination and limited flexible work options
Axis Bank Group Executive and Chief Human Resources Officer Rajkamal Vempati emphasized that increasing women’s workforce participation by 22 percent is not only a social goal but also one of the most critical economic levers available to India. He added that organizations designing flexible careers that allow women to return without loss of opportunity will lead the next decade of growth. Chief Economist Neelkanth Mishra highlighted that boosting labor demand, improving urban infrastructure, removing outdated legal obstacles, and providing childcare and flexible workplaces are essential to reintegrate women into the workforce.
