Rani,Suman Padhi, Balakrushna and Muniyoor, Krishna
Beyond the margins: changing structure of female labour force and job challenges in North-East India
- The Indian Journal of Labour Economics
- 68(4), Oct-Dec, 2025: p.1373-1397
This study analyses the long-term dynamics of female labour force participation (FLFP) and unemployment in the Northeastern Region (NER) of India over the four-decade period from 1983 to 2023–24. It utilises unit-level data from the NSSO Employment–Unemployment Surveys (EUS 1983 to 2011–12) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS 2017–18 to 2023–24), facilitating a comprehensive examination of the employment structure and labour market dynamics of women in the Northeastern Region of India. The findings indicate that the participation rates of females in the labour force and workforce within the NER are below the national average in India. In addition, the study shows that the female unemployment rate (UR) in North East India is higher than in the rest of the country. The study also finds an inverted U-shaped relationship between the FLFP rate and economic growth, meaning that there is a maximum point where the two factors are positively correlated, beyond which a further increase in economic growth may lead to a decrease in FLFP. Across northeastern states, a shape difference exists in the female labour participation rate (Assam and Tripura have low labour participation). Overall, the study highlights the challenges women face in the northeast region of India and emphasises the need for policies that promote FLFP and reduce unemployment.-Reproduced