Fractured inclusion: caste, education, and the decline of women’s work in Maharashtra (1993–2017)
Keywords:
Women’s employment, Labour force participation, Maharashtra, Social groups, Gender disparities, PLFS, Employment quality, Caste, EducationAbstract
This paper examines the changing patterns of women's labour force participation in Maharashtra from 1993 to 2017, focusing on the intersection of gender, caste, education, and employment quality. Using unit-level data from five major surveys—NSSO Rounds 50th (1993–94), 55th (1999–2000), 61st (2004–05), 68th (2010–11), and PLFS 2017–18—the study employs trend analysis, tabulations, and visualizations to capture long-term shifts in female employment.
The findings reveal a significant and continuous decline in female labour force participation, from 55.6% in 1993 to 32.7% in 2017, alongside a widening gender gap. Caste-based disparities persist, with SC/ST women showing higher LFPR historically but experiencing sharper declines post-2004. The study highlights the paradox of falling participation among educated women, particularly in urban areas, pointing to structural mismatches and socio-cultural constraints. Additionally, a shift in the composition of women’s work—from unpaid and casual labour to marginal gains in regular and self-employment—is observed, though most jobs remain informal and insecure.
The paper underscores the need for policies that improve not only the rate of women’s employment but also its quality, with a focus on regularization, social protection, and inclusive job creation.
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