All Things Policy The Measurement Challenge in FLFPR – How Can We Fix It?
Jul 30, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Sarika Choudhary, a PhD student and research associate, Amaresh Dubey, a former professor of economics, and Surbhi Malhotra from the Asian Development Bank tackle the complexities of measuring female labor force participation in India. They highlight the shortcomings of current data methods in capturing women's unpaid and informal work. The conversation emphasizes the need for improved time use surveys and employment classifications to better recognize women's contributions, advocating for policies that address their unique challenges in the workforce.
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Complexity of Work Measurement
- Work measurement relies on defining work as gainful activity contributing economically, typically paid in wages or profit.
- Subsidiary and seasonal work complicate this measurement, especially in agriculture-dependent economies like India.
Fluctuating Female Labor Participation
- Female labor force participation in India fluctuated significantly from 44.9% in 1993-94 down to 25.7% in 2017-18, then rose to 40% in 2023-24.
- Male participation remained stable around 84-91% over the same period.
Time Use Surveys Capture Invisible Work
- Traditional labor surveys miss women's unpaid, subsistence, and volunteer work, undercounting female labor participation.
- Time use surveys capture both paid and unpaid productive activities contributing to household and economy.