Time Use Survey 2024: Gender Disparities in Unpaid Work
The Time Use Survey 2024, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, highlights persistent gender disparities in unpaid domestic work. Despite some changes, women continue to spend significantly more time on unpaid household activities compared to men.
Key Findings
- Unpaid Domestic Services:
- In 2024, women spent an average of 289 minutes per day on unpaid domestic services.
- This is a reduction of 10 minutes from 2019 but still 201 minutes more than men.
- Unpaid Caregiving:
- Women spent 137 minutes per day on unpaid caregiving, up from 134 minutes in 2019.
- 41% of women and 21.4% of men aged 15-59 participated in caregiving activities.
Impact on Women's Economic Mobility
- The extensive time spent on household responsibilities limits women's capacity to engage in paid work.
- This structural inequality contributes to wage gaps and limits opportunities for women to acquire additional qualifications.
Labour Force Participation
- Women's participation in the labour force is 41.7% as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24.
- Men's participation stands at around 78%.
Economic Implications
The study by Karmannaya Counsel, CII, and Nikore Associates values women's unpaid work at 15% to 17% of the GDP notionally. This highlights the economic significance of unpaid work predominantly done by women.
Recommendations
- The ILO report from October 2024 suggests investing in the care economy, particularly in early childhood care and education.
- Reimagining household dynamics to promote inclusivity and dismantle stereotypes regarding gender roles is essential.
Addressing these disparities is crucial for achieving Viksit Bharat and ensuring women-led development in India.
