Skill Development in Females is Higher than Males: Skill Development Ministry

In response to the question in the Lok Sabha the ministry of skill development has given an interesting fact that the rate of skill development is much higher in females than males when compared to the male-female labor force of the country, as per the news reports in Economic Times.

“The government is aware of the phenomenon. But, in case the figures in the Economic Survey of India (ESI) 2021-22 are interpreted in the context of vast differences between the labour force participation rates of males and females, the same facts and figures would show an opposite picture of higher percentage of skilled females in the female labour force, as compared to the corresponding figures for males,” the ministry said on Monday. 

As per the statistics of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the proportion of skilled female workforce in the country stood at 1.7% in 2017-18, 2% in 2018-19 and 2.9% in 2019-20 compared to 2.3%, 2.8% and 3.5% amongst male workforce in corresponding years. 

As per the PLFS date, India had 12.24 crore of female workers vis-a-vis 38.73 crore of males in 2017-18, 12.45 crore vis-a-vis 39.37 crore males in 2018-19 and 15.47 crore of females vis-a-vis 40.87 crore of males in 2019-20. 

“As may be seen, in India, the female participation in the labour force is approximately one-third or a little more of male participation,” it said. 

“Hence, if calculated as a percentage of labour force, it shows a much higher rate of skilling in the female labour force than in male labour force as the percentage of skilled persons among the female population is approximately 48.5% whereas in terms of labour force participation, women number around 25%,” it said. 

“This shows that skilling is an aspirational achievement for women who are coming out in higher numbers than ever before to skill themselves and offer their labour to the market for monetization rather than keeping entirely within the confines of their homes where their labour do not command any monetary value,” it added.

This report shows that increasing women participation in the labour market is a positive sign for the country’s development & growth. As in the last 2 decades the country has seen more females have opted for professional courses not only from the tier 1 cities but also from the tier 2, tier 3 and rural areas, this has brought more women workforce into the employment circle which has definitely paid its dividends in the form of nation’s growth.