India’s female workforce participation rate nearly doubled between 2017-18 and 2023-24, according to government data released Monday, as more women entered both formal and self-employment sectors.

The Periodic Labour Force Survey revealed that the women’s employment rate increased from 22 percent in 2017-18 to 40.3 percent in 2023-24, while the unemployment rate declined to 3.2 percent from 5.6 percent over the same period.

Rural India experienced a 96 percent increase in female employment, compared to a 43 percent growth in urban areas, according to the Press Information Bureau release.

Formal Workforce Gains

Payroll data from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation indicated that 15.6 million women joined the formal workforce in the past seven years.

Meanwhile, the e-Shram portal recorded more than 166.9 million women registered as unorganized workers, making them eligible for social welfare programs.

Education and Employability

Employability among female graduates has also improved, rising to 47.5 percent in 2024 from 42 percent in 2013, according to the India Skills Report.

Employment among women with postgraduate education or higher rose to 40 percent in 2023-24, up from 34.5 percent in 2017-18.

Shift Toward Women-Led Development

The government stated that women’s self-employment has grown significantly, with PLFS data showing an increase from 51.9 percent in 2017-18 to 67.4 percent in 2023-24. Officials said the expansion reflects a broader transition from “women’s development to women-led development.”

Gender budget allocations grew more than fourfold in the past decade to ₹4.49 trillion ($170 billion) in 2025-26 from ₹850 billion in 2013-14, according to the PIB release.

Entrepreneurship and Credit Access

Women entrepreneurs have expanded their presence in India’s economy, supported by central and state programs. Nearly half of the startups registered with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade have at least one woman director, official figures showed.

Access to credit has also played a key role. Women received 68 percent of all loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, amounting to more than 35.3 crore loans worth ₹14.72 trillion rupees. Under the PM Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi, 44 percent of beneficiaries were women.

Rise of Women-Led MSMEs

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises run by women nearly doubled over the past decade, reaching 19.2 million in 2023-24 from 10 million in 2010-11. The sector generated 8.9 million additional jobs for women between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, according to the PIB data.

The share of women-owned proprietary establishments increased to 26.2 percent in 2023-24 from 17.4 percent in 2010-11, reflecting a growing contribution to the economy.

Officials said the government aims for 70 percent female workforce participation by 2047 as part of its “Viksit Bharat” development vision.

Programs such as Namo Drone Didi and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana are designed to further support women’s economic inclusion.

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