Overview
- Axis Bank’s 'The Missing Half' projects overall worker participation must rise from about 47% to nearly 60% to keep real GDP growth near 7% over the next 25 years.
- India has one of the lowest female participation rates in the G20, with roughly 60% of women in paid work in informal roles lacking contracts or social security.
- The study estimates around 125 million educated women are outside the workforce, with a large share of graduates opting out of paid employment.
- Barriers identified include safety concerns, limited urban mobility, childcare shortages, inflexible job design, and difficult re-entry after marriage or maternity breaks.
- Recommended steps include removing sector and shift restrictions on women, formalising flexible and part-time roles, expanding childcare, and improving safer commuting options.