Women’s Employment Participation Rises To 25 Per Cent In 2024, Time Spent On Unpaid Domestic Services Falls: NSO Survey

The participation of both men and women in employment-related activities in the 15-59 age group has witnessed a notable increase in 2024, according to the latest Time Use Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), reported The Hindu.

The survey highlights a shift in workforce engagement, time spent on unpaid domestic work, and evolving gender roles in caregiving and household activities.

According to the findings, 75 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women in the 15-59 age group were engaged in employment and related activities in 2024.

This marks a rise from 70.9 per cent and 21.8 per cent, respectively, in 2019.

Decline in Unpaid Domestic Work

The survey also noted a decline in the time spent by women on unpaid domestic services. In 2024, women spent an average of 305 minutes per day on such activities, compared to 315 minutes in 2019. 

Despite this shift, women continue to bear the primary responsibility for household work and caregiving.

Women dedicated 289 minutes per day to unpaid domestic services, whereas men contributed only 88 minutes. 

Similarly, women spent 137 minutes daily caring for household members, while men spent 75 minutes on the same activities.

Work and Leisure Patterns

Persons aged six and above who responded to the survey’s questions spent 171 minutes a day for activities related to culture, leisure, and mass media use.

Men allocated 473 minutes, whereas women spent 341 minutes in such activities.

Children between the ages of six and 14 dedicated 413 minutes per day to learning-related activities, while self-care and maintenance accounted for 708 minutes daily for individuals aged six and above.

A significant 41 per cent of women aged 15 to 59 participated in caregiving for household members, compared to 21.4 per cent of men in the same age group. 

Women who engaged in caregiving spent an average of 140 minutes per day, while their male counterparts allocated only 74 minutes.

The Ministry noted that this pattern aligns with traditional gender roles, where caregiving responsibilities remain predominantly assigned to women.

Participation in Household Production Activities

The survey found that 16.8 per cent of the population engaged in producing goods for their own final use, with an average of 116 minutes per day spent on such activities.

The Time Use Survey 2024 covered 1,39,487 households—with 83,247 in rural areas and 56,240 in urban areas—and gathered data from 4,54,192 individuals aged six and above.

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