The Indian economy is likely to have slowed down in the second quarter, growing 6.7% according to the median of an ET poll. The economy accelerated 7.8% in the first quarter of FY24.
While female unemployment has declined, the quality of jobs has not improved. An ET analysis shows that the share of women in regular-wage jobs reduced further in July-September period.
The share of women in regular-wage work declined at a faster pace than the one witnessed in the last year to 52.8% from 54% in the previous quarter.
Instead, the share of women in casual work rose to 6.9% and in the self-employed category to 40.3%.
The share of women was 39.2% in Q1FY24. The rise in the self-employed category was owing to a rise in the share of household helpers to 12.7% from 11.9% in the previous quarter.
The share of men in the self-employed category also rose in urban areas at the expense of regular wage and salaried workers. Of the 22 states covered by PLFS data, eight had a double-digit female unemployment rate.
Among the larger states, Assam had the highest rate of female unemployment at 17.9%, followed by Kerala at 14.8% and Rajasthan at 14.5%. Among males, only one state had double-digit unemployment. Rajasthan had the highest unemployment rate among the larger states.
