Women's Employment Rate Rises to 39% in 2025

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 29 April 2026

• Women’s workforce participation rise from 22% (2017) to 39% (2025)
• Female unemployment fell from 5.6% to 3.1%
• Social security coverage expanded from 19% (2015) to 64.3% (2025)

Women's participation rate has grown from 22 per cent in 2017 to 39 per cent in 2025, suggesting a growth in job opportunities for them, said Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has witnessed new, enabling opportunities opening up for women, leading to a transformative improvement in female employment indicators," Mandaviya said.

He said that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has increased from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 40 per cent in 2025. The Female Worker Population Ratio (FWPR) has similarly grown from 22 per cent in 2017 to almost 39 per cent in 2025, he said.

In addition, the Female Unemployment Rate (FUR) has come down from 5.6 per cent to 3.1 per cent, which indicates that women who are looking for jobs are finding them, he said. Several survey reports have suggested that women are finding more jobs. Fair participation of women in the labour force is a social obligation as well as an economic need, he said.

"Empowering women is central to building a Viksit Bharat," he affirmed.

The minister also emphasised the almost three-fold growth in India's social security coverage in the past decade, from 19 per cent in 2015 to more than 64.3 per cent in 2025, as a result of concerted policy efforts in areas such as labour law reform, digital social inclusion and targeted social welfare.

"The principle of equal pay for equal work has been enshrined in the Codes, a landmark step towards eliminating wage discrimination on the basis of gender," he added.

The Labour Codes also address provisions for work from home, maternity leave and the setting up of creches at workplaces, which go to addressing issues that have undermined women's participation in the workforce. overcome the structural impediments that have kept women from staying in the workforce, Mandaviya said. He also noted the distinctive role of gig and platform economy in empowering women.

"Women delivery partners are not only helping their families but also contributing to societal advancement, paving the way for generations to come and contributing to our country's economic and social development," Mandaviya said.

He honoured women delivery partners from Swiggy Food Marketplace and Instamart for their bravery and resilience at the event. Sriharsha Majety, co-founder and Group CEO of Swiggy, along with other dignitaries were also at the event.

The event gathered women delivery partners from Swiggy Food Marketplace and Instamart who have battled socio-economic challenges to secure a decent living and empower their families.