Unequal work: Gender, caste and the crisis of women’s employment in Madhya Pradesh (1993–2017)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64171/JSRD.1.1.61-69Keywords:
Women’s labour participation, Gender gap, Social groups, Employment quality, Madhya Pradesh, Informal employment, Caste, EducationAbstract
This study examines the long-term trends and structural inequalities shaping women’s employment in Madhya Pradesh from 1993 to 2017. Drawing on unit-level data from five rounds of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the paper analyzes female labour force participation by age, caste, and education, alongside changes in employment type and access to job benefits. Despite improvements in literacy and economic development, female labour force participation in Madhya Pradesh declined from 55.8% in 1993 to 32.8% in 2017. Caste-based disparities remain entrenched, with SC/ST women more likely to engage in low-paid or unpaid work, while general category women face mobility and social constraints. The paradox of low participation among educated women highlights structural mismatches in the labour market. Additionally, most women remain in informal and insecure work, with limited access to contracts, social security, or paid leave. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at improving the quality of women’s work and enabling inclusive employment growth. Findings contribute to the broader discourse on gender, labour informality, and social exclusion in India.
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