Half of the Country's Young Women Are Without Work or Skills

Half of the Country's Young Women Are Without Work or Skills
Despite being a large segment of the country’s energetic young population, nearly half of the young women aged 15-29 lack both employment and skills to pursue work, rendering them dependent on others. According to a report from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 46% of women in the 15-29 age group are neither employed nor receiving any education or training that could lead to employment, indicating a concerning situation.
As per the findings of the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2022-23, about 44.6% of women in the 15-29 age range are not contributing to any productive activities. These women are neither working nor actively looking for work, nor are they participating in any vocational training. This lack of engagement in economic activities makes them largely reliant on others for their livelihood.

Impact of Education Bias
The report highlights that a significant gap still exists in access to education and training for women. Social biases and unequal access to training and employment opportunities continue to limit young women. Among young people aged 15-29, about 38 crores in India, 8.4 crore (or 46.6%) are women who are neither working nor involved in productive activities.

Regional and National Trends
On a national level, approximately one-fourth of young women are not involved in any economic or productive roles. The report further notes that among the young population, young men have relatively higher participation in economic activities than young women, signalling a gender disparity.
While some young women have achieved a level of self-reliance, the data shows that a significant percentage remain inactive. Urban and rural areas alike show disparities in women’s economic participation, which points to broader societal challenges.