Round Table Discussion on Female Workforce Participation Marks a Milestone in India’s Economic Growth

Mussoorie: A high-level Round Table Discussion on Improving Female Workforce Participation in India was held at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, on March 3-4, 2025. Led by Smt. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, and the Director of LBSNAA, the event marked a significant step in advancing the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, which aims to achieve 70% female workforce participation.

With India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) currently at 41.7% (PLFS 2023-24), the discussion brought together government policymakers, industry leaders, global organizations, and skilling institutions to address barriers to employment, workplace safety, pay parity, and digital job opportunities. The deliberations focused on policy reforms and industry-driven solutions to create safe, inclusive, and equitable workplaces, ensuring sustained economic growth.

Positive Trends in Female Workforce Participation

Speaking at the event, Smt. Sumita Dawra emphasized that India has witnessed a positive trend in female workforce participation over the past six years, with significant economic engagement, lower unemployment rates, and a rise in educated women entering the workforce.

She highlighted the key statistics reflecting this progress:

• Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for women (15+ years) rose from 22.0% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24.
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women increased from 23.3% to 41.7% in the same period.
• Female unemployment dropped from 5.6% to 3.2%, demonstrating a shift toward greater economic inclusion and empowerment.

Dawra stressed that systemic barriers and policy gaps must be addressed through innovative solutions to further strengthen women’s participation in the workforce, ensuring sustainable and equitable economic growth.

Key Themes of the Round Table Discussion

The two-day discussion focused on four core themes identified by the Ministry of Labour & Employment as crucial to enhancing women’s workforce participation:

1. Care Ecosystem – Emphasizing the expansion of affordable and quality care services as a labour market enabler, allowing more women to enter and sustain employment.
2. Future of Jobs & Skilling – Aligning skilling initiatives with industry demand to ensure women’s access to high-growth sectors, reinforcing demand-driven skilling and employment linkages.
3. Safe & Equitable Workplaces – Strengthening workplace safety, gender-sensitive labour laws, compliance mechanisms, gender audits, and enforcement of PoSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) regulations.
4. AI & Digital Interventions – Leveraging digital employment platforms, enhancing women’s digital literacy, and integrating AI-driven skilling programs to ensure their equitable participation in the future of work.

Action Plan for Women’s Workforce Inclusion

The Ministry of Labour & Employment identified key action areas that will play a critical role in achieving higher female workforce participation. Among these, the integration of care policies into employment frameworks, gender-sensitive policy reforms, and industry-driven skilling programs emerged as top priorities.

The discussions concluded with clear, actionable recommendations that will be implemented through a dedicated task force to ensure continuous progress and collaboration between stakeholders.

Secretary Smt. Sumita Dawra reaffirmed that this was not a one-time discussion but the beginning of a sustained national effort to create a safe, skilled, and inclusive workforce. She stressed the importance of translating these discussions into measurable progress for women’s employment and economic inclusion.

The event ended with Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Shri Ajoy Sharma, expressing gratitude to all participants and LBSNAA for facilitating this critical dialogue. He reiterated the government’s commitment to breaking employment barriers, fostering workplace inclusivity, and ensuring gender equality in India’s labour market.

With this collaborative effort between the government, industry, and civil society, India is set to make significant strides toward gender parity in the workforce, ensuring that women play a pivotal role in the country’s economic transformation under Viksit Bharat 2047.