In India, only 32% of married girls and women in the age group 15-49 are employed, while 98% of married men of the same age group are employed.
In India, only 32% of married girls and women in the age group 15-49 are employed, while 98% of married men of the same age group are employed.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 conducted from 2019-21, 32% married girls and women in the age group 15-49 are employed. Of these, 83% earn cash while 15% do not receive any payment.
The employment rate among women in this age group shows a slight increase – 32% – from the 31% recorded in NFHS-IV.
It added that the percentage of earning women has also increased by 3%.
The latest NHFS survey shows no change in the percentage of employed men, while the number of cash earners has increased from 91% to 95%.
In India, only 32% of married girls and women in the 15-49 age group are employed, while 98% of the same age group are married men.
Among working girls and women, 83% earn cash, with 8% being compensated both in cash and in kind. The survey states that 15% of employed women are not paid for their work.
In comparison, 95% of working men earn cash, while 4% receive no pay.
22% of working girls and women in the age group 15-19 do not receive any compensation. It said that with women aged 25 and above, the proportion has come down to 13-17%.
“In the four years following NFHS-4, women’s participation in their own earnings decisions increased slightly (from 82% to 85%),” the report said.
However, the percentage of women earning equal to or more than their husbands has declined from 42% in NFHS-4 to 40%.
The latest NHFS survey was conducted in about 6.37 lakh sample households in 707 districts across 28 states and eight union territories, comprising 7,24,115 females and 1,01,839 males.
The national report also provides data on socio-economic and other parameters useful for policy formulation and effective program implementation.
No significant change in the lives of women
Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India, said these figures do not indicate a significant change in the lives of women.
“A one percentage-point increase in employment among currently married women between the ages of 15-49, a three percent increase in the percentage of women earning cash, and in women’s participation in decisions about their earnings over nearly five years (2015) -2015-16 to 2019-21) There is hardly any sign of greater autonomy and progress for women,” she said.
He said such averages hide the reality of dwindling employment opportunities for women in many states.
For example, the percentage of employment among married women declined by 15.1 percentage points in Mizoram, 6.1 percentage points in Jharkhand and 4.2 percentage points in Madhya Pradesh between 2015-16 and 2019-21. He said that even in those states where employment has not declined, the quality of employment is deteriorating.
“Similarly, over the same period, participation of women in decisions about their own earnings declined by 6.1 percentage points in Manipur, 5.6 percentage points in Arunachal Pradesh and no change (less than 1 per cent) in Nagaland, Kerala and Meghalaya. Show up.” Mutreja said.
About 75% of boys and men in the 15-49 age group are currently employed, while only 25% of girls and women in the same age group have jobs.
The data also showed that employed women were more likely to use modern contraception.
She said these trends call for even greater efforts and investments to expand women’s freedom and opportunities.