ANNOUNCEMENTS
This study investigates that despite decades of progress in girls schooling and education, women’s entry into the paid labour market remains low. Anchored in feminist literature the research critically examines how structural constraints, social norms, and unpaid domestic labour mediate women’s engagement in the workforce. The study adopts a mixed-method approach, combining theoretical interpretation from feminist economic theory and secondary data analysis. Using nationally representative the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024 data as the primary empirical foundation the study captures the full extent of women’s contributions, including unpaid domestic and care work, which are often excluded from conventional labour force statistics. Key findings reveal that a significant share of women’s time is absorbed by household duties, leaving limited scope for formal employment. In addition, broader macroeconomic conditions particularly the lack of jobs further restrict women’s entry into the workforce. The study underscores that without institutional support, employment opportunities, and a shift in how unpaid work is recognized, educational progress alone cannot ensure meaningful economic participation for women.
Key Words: Female labour force participation, informal labour force participation, time poverty, unpaid work, and gendered division of labour in India.
