Women dominate manufacturing jobs in urban India, says Mospi report

The "Women and Men in India, 2023" report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation revealed that a higher proportion of urban women were employed in manufacturing (23.9%) and other services (40.1%) compared to their male counterparts. In contrast, urban men were more engaged in construction, trade, hotels, and transport sectors. In rural areas, women predominantly worked in agriculture, with 76.2% of rural female workers involved in the sector compared to 49.1% of rural men. Despite these employment patterns, women continued to face barriers in accessing quality jobs, including wage disparities and limited opportunities in urban areas. The report emphasized the need for strategic measures like job reservations, targeted training, and safe work environments to enhance female workforce participation. Notably, female unemployment in urban areas (7.5%) was higher than male unemployment (4.7%), particularly among those aged 15-29.