ASUSE 2023-24 Reports 58% of Indian Manufacturing Establishments led by Women

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 30 January 2025

• Female Proprietors hold 58% of Manufacturing Establishments in 2023-24
• Report highlights Growing presence of Women in Entrepreneurial Landscape
• Female Workers are Employed most from Rural & Urban Sectors

The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2023-24 revealed that around 58 per cent of manufacturing establishments were led by female proprietors, a 4 percentage point increase from the previous year.

The ASUSE report further revealed that 28.1 per cent of workers were females, including 33.7 per cent of won account enterprises (OAEs) during the year 2023-24. The report highlighted the growing presence of women in the entrepreneurial landscape showcasing the significance of gender equity in economic development and the effectiveness of initiatives empowering women entrepreneurs.

Female proprietors' share in establishments increased to 26.2 per cent from 22.9 per cent and for other services to 14.2 per cent from 9.7 per cent in 2023-24, whereas women hired was estimated at around 18.5 per cent. Female workers' participation was recorded highest in manufacturing services at 46.5 per cent other services at 22.5 per cent, and trade at 19.21 per cent.

ASUSE 2023-24 reports West Bengal has the highest share of female workers at 12.7 per cent, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 10.4 per cent and Maharashtra at 9.7 per cent. Female workers are employed most in rural and urban sectors with 16 per cent in West Bengal and 13 per cent in Maharashtra.

The ASUSE survey for 2023-24 revealed that women own every 1 out of 4 proprietary establishments in India, with one-third in Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, and West Bengal. The number of establishments increased by 12.8 per cent between Oct 2023-Sept 2024, while total employment rose by 10.1 per cent.

Unincorporated non-agricultural establishments are not registered under the Companies Act 1956 or 2013 Act, which significantly contribute to the economy by absorbing the workforce, providing job opportunities, and contributing to GDP.