India’s Round Table Pushes for Women’s Workforce Growth
In a significant move towards enhancing female workforce participation, a Round Table Discussion was held on March 3 and 4, 2025, at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. Led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the Director of LBSNAA, the event aimed to address barriers to women’s employment as part of India’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, targeting a 70% female workforce participation rate.
Current Landscape of Female Workforce Participation
As of the 2023-24 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) stands at 41.7%. This Round Table brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and representatives from global organizations, to discuss the pressing challenges women face in the workforce. Topics included employment barriers, workplace safety, pay equity, and access to digital job opportunities. The discussions aimed to formulate policy reforms and industry-driven solutions that can unlock the full potential of India’s workforce, ensuring safe and inclusive workplaces that contribute to sustained economic growth.
Key Themes and Discussions
The Round Table focused on four critical themes: Care Ecosystem, Future of Jobs & Skilling, Safe & Equitable Workplaces, and AI & Digital Interventions. Smt. Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, highlighted the importance of these discussions in shaping effective workforce policies. She noted a positive trend in female workforce participation over the past six years, with the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for women aged 15 and above increasing from 22.0% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24. Additionally, female unemployment has significantly decreased from 5.6% to 3.2%, indicating progress toward greater economic empowerment.
The discussions underscored the need for expanding affordable and quality care services, aligning skilling initiatives with industry demands, and strengthening workplace safety and gender-sensitive labor laws. The government aims to leverage advancements in AI and digital transformation to enhance women’s digital literacy and ensure equitable participation in the future job market.
Actionable Recommendations and Future Steps
Concluding the Round Table, participants outlined actionable recommendations aimed at accelerating women’s workforce inclusion. These included policy reforms, industry-driven initiatives, and institutional mechanisms designed to dismantle barriers and foster a skilled, inclusive workforce. Secretary Dawra emphasized that this initiative marks the beginning of a sustained effort, with a task force established to ensure ongoing collaboration and implementation of the discussed strategies. Joint Secretary Ajoy Sharma expressed gratitude to all participants and LBSNAA for facilitating this essential dialogue, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to translating these discussions into tangible progress for women’s workforce inclusion.
With these initiatives, India is taking crucial steps toward achieving a more equitable workforce, paving the way for a future where women can fully participate in the economy.
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