Rising workforce participation
Women’s Employment Growth in India 2023-24: India witnessed a remarkable rise in the women’s employment rate, which nearly doubled from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24, according to Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data. This sharp increase highlights the growing role of women in both formal and informal sectors.
The female unemployment rate dropped significantly from 5.6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24, showing improved job opportunities across regions.
Static GK fact: The PLFS is conducted annually by the National Statistical Office (NSO) to track labour force indicators in India.
Urban and rural employment trends
Rural female employment recorded an impressive 96% growth, while urban employment among women rose by 43% during the same period. This demonstrates how rural schemes and grassroots entrepreneurship have played a major role in generating opportunities.
Over 1.56 crore women joined the formal workforce in the last seven years, as revealed by EPFO payroll data.
Entrepreneurship and credit support
Government support has been crucial for women-led businesses. Gender budgets rose by 429% in the last decade, enabling higher participation in entrepreneurship. Nearly 70 central government schemes and 400+ state-level schemes promote women’s enterprises.
Women are increasingly at the forefront of startups, with nearly half of the DPIIT-registered startups having at least one woman director.
Static GK tip: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Credit and financial inclusion
Access to credit has strongly supported women entrepreneurs. Women received 68% of total loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY). Similarly, 44% of beneficiaries under the PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme were women.
Women-led MSMEs nearly doubled from 1 crore in 2010-11 to 1.92 crore in 2023-24, generating over 89 lakh jobs between 2021 and 2023.
Education and employability
Educational progress has contributed significantly to employability. Female graduates’ employability rose from 42% in 2013 to 47.53% in 2024. Women with postgraduate degrees improved their employment rate from 34.5% in 2017-18 to 40% in 2023-24.
The India Skills Report 2025 forecasts that 55% of Indian graduates will be globally employable, providing a strong platform for women professionals.
Unorganised sector and social welfare
Over 16.69 crore unorganised women workers have registered with the e-Shram portal, enabling access to social security schemes. This registration is a major step in bringing informal women workers under government welfare coverage.
Towards a developed India
The vision of Nari Shakti aligns with the goal of achieving 70% women workforce participation by 2047, as India moves towards becoming a developed nation. Women’s role in employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation is central to this transformation.
Static GK fact: India celebrates National Women’s Day on 13th February, the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, to recognise women’s contribution to nation-building.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Women’s Employment Growth in India 2023-24:
| Topic | Detail |
| Women’s employment rate 2023-24 | Rose to 40.3% from 22% in 2017-18 |
| Female unemployment rate | Declined from 5.6% to 3.2% |
| Rural female employment | Increased by 96% |
| Urban female employment | Increased by 43% |
| Women in formal workforce | 1.56 crore joined in 7 years (EPFO data) |
| Gender budgets | Rose by 429% in last decade |
| Women in startups | Nearly half of DPIIT-registered startups have women directors |
| PM Mudra Yojana loans | 68% of loans given to women |
| Women-led MSMEs | Increased from 1 crore in 2010-11 to 1.92 crore in 2023-24 |
| e-Shram portal | 16.69 crore unorganised women workers registered |
