Nari Shakti Driving India’s Growth: Women’s Employment Doubled Since 2017–18
25 August 2025 (Ministry of Labour & Employment) – India is witnessing a historic surge in women’s participation in the workforce, as per the latest PLFS and EPFO data shared by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
Key Highlights
- Workforce Participation Rate (WPR): Women’s employment nearly doubled from 22% in 2017–18 to 40.3% in 2023–24, while unemployment dropped from 5.6% to 3.2%.
- Formal Jobs: Over 1.56 crore women joined the formal workforce in the last seven years, according to EPFO payroll data.
- Entrepreneurship & Finance: Women received 68% of Mudra loans (₹14.7 lakh crore) and lead 44% of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries. Women-led MSMEs also doubled to 1.92 crore by 2023–24, generating nearly 89 lakh new jobs.
Takeaway: From startups to MSMEs, women are not just participants but key drivers in India’s march toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
