New Delhi:
A recent survey conducted by UNICEF has highlighted the attitudes of young men and women towards women’s participation in the workforce, revealing a strong inclination towards preferring job opportunities rather than immediate marriage after education.
The survey, “Factors influencing young women’s participation in the labor force and non-traditional jobs”, conducted by UNICEF’s youth platform Yuvah and U-Report, involved more than 24,000 respondents aged 18-29 across India.
According to the survey results, about 75 percent of young women and men believe that securing employment after studies is the most important step for women.
In contrast, less than a fifth of respondents advocated marriage immediately after education.
The survey also highlighted key factors influencing young women’s decisions about workforce participation, with 52 percent of respondents emphasizing the importance of access to information, opportunities and support from families.
Additionally, insights were gathered on various aspects influencing women’s participation in the workforce, including decisions about marriage and childbearing, preferences for traditional versus non-traditional job roles, and views on flexible work arrangements such as remote work .
Speaking on the survey, Aarti Ahuja, Secretary, Ministry of Labor and Employment, stressed the need for collaborative efforts to support women’s workforce participation.
“Now is the time to support the hardworking, motivated, talented and honest female workforce, who constitute 50 per cent of our population,” she said.
“We must increase female workforce participation at all levels as we move towards becoming a top 3 economy in the world by 2047,” she said.
Ahuja said the government is committed to creating a conducive ecosystem to increase women’s representation in both the public and private sectors.
Manjula Singh, Executive Director of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), supported her as she emphasized the transformative potential of economic empowerment for women.
Dhuvarakha Sriram, Head of Yuvawah at UNICEF India, stressed the importance of collective action in promoting gender equality and economically empowering young women.
She announced the launch of #SakshamNaariKaSafar campaign, which aims to bridge the gap, expand access to opportunities and build a society where women are not only participants but leaders in the economic landscape.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
