Make gender equality the norm has been saved
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Make gender equality the norm
Empower women. Impact lives
In India, women account for a mere 24% of the workforce as compared with 48% reported across the globe. This theme paper provides critical insights into the way forward for empowering women by enabling their economic development.
Rise of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
The term 4IR was introduced by Klaus Schwab, the founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum. He describes the revolution as a convergence of the physical, digital, and biological worlds that will change wayin which people and businesses interact with technology.
The emergence of 4IR provided an opportunity to governments in developing economies to consider labour reforms, as the nature of work is largely labour intensive and technology-driven models are perceived to replace human efforts. This applies specifically to women who largely occupy high-intensity but low-skill and low-paying jobs.
What is the preparedness of girls and women for the future of work?
- Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has been documented to be 54% and only 5% Indians can be considered formally skilled.
- India currently holds the 120th position in a group of 131 countries in terms of female LFPR
- Female LFPR is currently 50% lower than male LFPR in India, with 95% women (195 million) working in the informal sector.
How to remodel gender-specific skill development initiatives for the 4IR?
- Focusing on demand-driven skill development
- Achieving higher levels of inclusion to break gender stereotypes
- Aligning courses to National Occupation Standards to enhance employment opportunities
- Equipping training labs with latest technology
- Preparing an ecosystem for women when they migrate for employment
- Creating opportunities for industry exposure
