According to the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024 conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI), participation of women in paid employment and care activities has increased.
Time Use Survey
- Time Use Survey (TUS) measures how the population spends its time in various activities.
- Its main objective is to measure the participation of men and women in paid and unpaid activities.
Time Use Survey 2024:
- Period: January – December 2024
- Coverage: More than 4.5 lakh people from 1.3 lakh households (rural and urban) were covered. Information was collected from all members aged 6 years and above of each selected household.
- Releasing Organization: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), National Statistical Office (NSO), MoSPI
- Previous Surveys: First All India Time Use Survey: January – December 2019, Second All India Survey: January – December 2024
Time Use Survey 2024: Key Findings
- Increase in Workforce Participation: Women’s participation in employment related activities increased from 21.8% in 2019 to 25% in 2024. Men’s participation increased from 70.9% to 75%. This reflects an increase in women’s economic participation, although gender gaps in labour force participation still persist.
- Decrease in time spent in unpaid domestic work: Women spent less time in unpaid domestic work from 315 minutes in 2019 to 305 minutes per day in 2024. The time spent by men in such work was only 88 minutes per day. This change indicates a shift towards paid work by women.
- Women’s dominant role in caregiving: 41% of women aged 15-59 years were involved in caregiving activities, while the percentage of men was only 21.4%. Women spend 137 minutes per day in caregiving work, while men spend only 75 minutes.
Positive trends and challenges:
Positive trends:
- Increase in women’s workforce participation: Women’s employment rate increased from 8% in 2019 to 25% in 2024, indicating a shift towards paid work.
- Decrease in unpaid domestic work: Women’s unpaid domestic work decreased by 10 minutes per day, making progress towards gender balance.
- Greater recognition of care responsibilities: Participation in care work increased by both men and women, reflecting recognition of its importance in families.
- Increase in cultural and recreational activities: Time spent on culture, media and sports increased from 9% to 11%.
- Increase in learning activities among children: 3% of children aged 6-14 years are spending 413 minutes per day in learning activities, indicating strong educational engagement.
Drawbacks and challenges:
- Gender inequality in domestic work: Women spend 201 minutes more than men in unpaid domestic work, reflecting deep-rooted socio-familial norms.
- Decline in learning time among youth: Learning activities decreased by 11 minutes for men and 10 minutes for women, leading to a potential drop in education.
- Limited participation of men in care tasks: Only 4% of men were involved in care tasks, while women’s participation was 41%, resulting in a greater burden of care on women.