A smarter return to work
One of India’s strengths has been the effort women make to build careers while managing family responsibilities. Yet, significant life events such as maternity and other career breaks often make returning to work difficult. While female labour-force participation has improved in recent years, the gap remains substantial. The latest PLFS annual report for 2025 puts labour-force participation among women aged 15 and above at 45.9% in rural India, but only 27.7% in urban India.
For an economy seeking faster growth and looking to leverage its nari shakti, organisations must find better ways to bridge the knowledge and skills gap that can inhibit women from resuming their careers.
