"Determinants Of Women’s Workforce Participation In Haryana: An Empirical Analysis Using PLFS Data"

Abstract

This paper examines the factors influencing women work force participation in Haryana, India, by utilising unit-level data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). By applying logistic regression analysis, we assess how the socio-economic variables shape women’s workforce participation in both rural and urban contexts. The findings reveal that age, social group, and marital status have a significant impact on the participation of women in the rural workforce. The study reveals a U-shaped relationship between education and FLFP, where women with the least and most education exhibit higher participation rates, while those with moderate education engage less in the workforce. Rural women, especially from Scheduled Castes (SCs), are more likely to participate in low-paying agricultural jobs due to economic necessity, whereas urban women are concentrated in formal sectors like education and manufacturing. Significant urban-rural disparities are evident in employment patterns: rural women are largely engaged in self-employment and casual labour, while urban women have better access to regular, salaried jobs. However, both rural and urban women face high levels of job insecurity, with limited access to social security benefits, paid leave, or formal contracts. The findings highlight the pressing need for labour market reforms to ensure gender equality in employment opportunities and protections. This paper contributes to understanding the structural barriers limiting women's workforce participation and offers insights for policymakers aiming to enhance women's labour market outcomes in Haryana.