83% Women Out of Labor Force: Delhi Government Report

By: WE Staff | Friday, 19 March 2021

A survey conducted by the Delhi Government to measure the unemployment scenario in the National Capital revealed that the unemployment rate had risen to 28.5 percent between October-November last year against 11.1 percent in January-February-months preceding the COVID-19 lockdown in India. 

The survey was prepared by the Delhi Government and the Centre for Market Research and Social Development. It surveyed 44,226 people of which 32,052 were above the age of 15.

About 89 percent of the unemployed people were surveyed, of which 56 percent remain with no work and are looking out for a job. 30 percent of the surveyed participants lost their jobs due to an economic slump while 29.3 percent were unemployed due to the closure of businesses. 

The ones who were employed were not able to earn enough. 7 percent of the employed sector were making just 5,000 per month while the rest 20 percent were making around Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a month. The average income dropped from Rs 16,511 to Rs 15,383.

Women were the worst-hit during this period. The report stated that among the women, the unemployment rate rose from 25.6 to 54.7 percent. As per CMIE's Consumer Pyramids Household, Survey Employment rate of urban women has halved in 5 years since 2016 from 11.2 percent to 5.4 percent in 2021.

According to the Delhi Government report, 83.1 percent of female respondents were out of the labor force, while the female labor force participation rate(LFPR) was just 16.9 percent. The female workforce participation rate(WPR) was 7.6 percent and the female unemployment rate(UR) was 54.7 percent in the month of October-November 2020.

According to Census 2011 data and the latest round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), rural women make up 81.29 percent of the female workforce in India. The statistic includes both marginal and main workers. The Census describes main workers as those who are employed for most parts of the year.

Most of these women are agricultural laborers who work on someone else’s land in return for wages. Interestingly, close to 56 percent of the employed rural women are illiterate. The number of illiterate urban working women is 28 percentage points lower.

Unemployment was highest among those between the age group of 15 and 25 years. It was 25.5 percent before lockdown but it raised to 28.2 percent post lockdown. There is also a sharp increase in the unemployment rate in case of the people aged above 60. It raised from 8.8 percent before the lockdown to 27.4 percent after the lockdown.

“The percentage of reduction in employment in various top sectors were: specialized construction activities (43%), Food and beverage service activities (31%), Education (30%), Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (25%), Services to buildings and landscape activities (25%), Information service activities (22%), Land transport and transport via pipelines (22%),” the survey reported.

In India, the overall unemployment rate stands at 6.5 percent with urban unemployment at 7.1 percent and rural India at 6.2 percent.

A survey conducted by Azim Premji University for the post lockdown period between October and DECEMBER, 2020 says that at least one of every five workers from the informal sector are either out of the labor market or are currently unemployed.