More women are drawing salaries in India but the gender pay gap persists

• The number of salaried women employees in the urban workforce has increased by 2.1%, compared to 1.5% amongst men, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO).
  
• The overall share of salaried employees improved from 48.3% in 2018 to 50% in March 2019.
  
• The unemployment rate dropped to 11.6% among women against 12.8% in June last year.
  
• According to the Monster Salary Index, women earn 19% less than men in India.

Fewer Indian women are a part of its labour market. But their participation seems to be growing at a faster rate than that of men. Salaried women employees in the urban workforce increased by 2.1% as compared to 1.5% among men, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO).

The overall share of salaried employees improved from 48.3% in 2018 to 50% in March 2019. However, the survey also says that unemployment is higher among women.

The rate of unemployment in women dropped to 11.6% as against 12.8% in June last year. But it is yet to match that of men where unemployment rate is at 8.7%.

Gender pay gap remains

However, the pay gap remains an area of concern for the government and organisations. According to the Monster Salary Index, women earn 19% less than men in India. The online job search platform shows that the gender pay gap widens with higher skill level but exist all across.

This could be one of the many reasons why women participation in the workforce is low. Even after five years, merely 22% of the females between the age bracket of 15-30 years are expected to enter the labour force, according to the National Skills Development Corporation. That means, of the 59 million people who enter the job market, only one in five will be women.

Education Statistics

Though fewer women are expected to work, there has been no change in women who are keen on an education. Female participation at the higher secondary level stood at 70.8% over the last decade. But this is changing as the skill levels increase.

The share of women in engineering and management courses dropped in 2018, the survey highlighted. While the students enrolling in vocational courses rose by 3.9% in the last four years.

See also:
Unemployment in India highest among urban youth, says government data

Male workforce is reportedly shrinking in India, reveals job survey by NSSO

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