The unemployment rate of women in India has reached the highest level in three months in September, which is a matter of concern. According to the recently released Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS), the unemployment rate among women aged 15 years and above rose to 5.5% in September, while among urban women the rate reached 9.3%. Unemployment among rural women has also increased to 4.3%. Unemployment among men has also increased slightly, but among women this increase has been more rapid.
According to the report, the total labor force participation rate (LFPR) has seen an improvement, standing at 55.3% in September, the highest in the last five months. The working population of women in rural areas is also continuously increasing, which indicates economic inclusion. However, the unemployment rate among youth is around 15% and among young women it is even higher, reaching 26.4%, indicating a lack of employment opportunities.
Experts are considering this increasing unemployment as a big challenge for women employment, which can affect the pace of economic development. Emphasis is being laid on the need to take better steps for employment generation, skill development and providing equal opportunities to women so that they can become self-reliant and the development of the society can also be ensured.
These figures highlight the importance of increasing women’s economic participation not only for social equality but also for India’s overall development. The government, policy makers and society will have to together make concrete plans for this so that women can get better employment opportunities and become a strong partner in the economic revolution.