Why are Millions of Women Missing in India’s Workforce?

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The talk unravels the puzzle of low rates of female labor force participation in India. Indian women are more educated than ever before. Yet, this progress has not translated into economic empowerment. Women’s labor force participation, which exceeded 30 percent in the early 1990s, declined over the following decades, before rebounding to around 40 percent. This paradox underscores a central tension in India's development story: access to education has expanded, but barriers continue to limit women's economic autonomy.

The prevailing view is that restrictive and unequal gender norms limit women's potential. In contrast, the talk will highlight the role of a lack of economic opportunities, arguing that policy should focus on labor market demand and economic incentives. Drawing on historical evidence — including Claudia Goldin’s research on the U.S. — it demonstrates that women’s workforce participation rises when opportunities expand, gradually reshaping gender norms.

Center for Global India | View More Events
Co-hosted with: Princeton Institute for International & Regional Studies, Center for Global India (OWNER)

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