School to Work: A Tale of Missing Females in the Indian Labour Market

School to Work: A Tale of Missing Females in the Indian Labour Market

Debasis Barik
Monthly Digest of Maharashtra Economic Development Council 06 May 2025

India has made remarkable strides in expanding access to education for girls over the past few decades. Enrolment rates for girls in primary and secondary schools have risen significantly, and gender gaps in literacy have narrowed. Girls have surpassed boys even in gross enrolment in higher education. However, this educational success has not translated into a proportional increase in female labour force participation.