Only 32.5 Per Cent of Women in Hyderabad Are in the Workforce, MoSPI Report Shows

A new report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has revealed a persistent gender divide in the workforce of Hyderabad.

The data shows that the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in the city stands at just 32.5 per cent, compared to a much higher rate of 77.6 per cent for men.

This finding highlights a significant gender gap that continues to hold back the local economy, despite Hyderabad establishing itself as one of the strongest urban labour markets in India. According to the MoSPI report, which details labour and employment indicators across India's million-plus cities, only about one in three working-age women in Hyderabad is currently employed or actively seeking work.

The low participation of women is particularly striking given that Hyderabad performs very well on most other employment indicators. The city's overall Labour Force Participation Rate is recorded at 55.4 per cent, which is comfortably above the average of 51.3 per cent recorded across other million-plus cities in the country.

Over the past decade, Hyderabad has developed into a major employment destination. This growth has been driven by a thriving information technology sector, a strong pharmaceutical industry, robust financial services, manufacturing, and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem. Despite these thriving sectors offering a robust employment ecosystem, female representation in the workforce remains low.

On a positive note, the MoSPI report also pointed to an encouraging trend among the women who have managed to enter the workforce. A majority of the employed women in Hyderabad hold regular salaried jobs rather than casual employment.

Specifically, the data indicates that nearly 59.3 per cent of working women in Hyderabad are engaged in regular wage or salaried work. This high percentage suggests that formal employment opportunities are relatively accessible for women once they enter the local labour market, even though initial entry remains a challenge.