Women’s employment in urban India has jumped 10 per cent in the last six years (2017-18 to 2023-24), according to a report, ahead of the International Women’s Day 2025, on Friday.
The white paper launched by Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, showed that urban women in their forties have the highest employment rate among women in urban India — 38.3 per cent in 2023-24.
It also warned of pressing challenges including the underutilisation of educated women’s skills and the looming risk of a diversity backlash.
More than 89 million urban Indian women still remained out of the labour market during 2023-24, said the report. Factors such as caregiving responsibilities, lack of flexible work arrangements, and commuting challenges continue to prevent many highly qualified women from fully participating in the economy.
The findings also highlighted gender gaps even in highly educated households. Even among dual-income, highly educated couples, gender disparities remain stark.
In 62 per cent of such families, husbands earn more, despite equal educational qualifications. Additionally, wives continue to take on the primary responsibility for household work in 41 per cent of homes, compared to just 2 per cent of husbands.
Meanwhile, the balance remains elusive for urban mothers with access to remote work — 86 per cent report spending up to three workday hours on childcare while working. Yet only 44 per cent feel they have adequate support.
This reinforces the need for stronger workplace policies that acknowledge and address the realities of working mothers.
(IANS)
