2024 Time Use Survey

 

 

 

 

India's 2024 Time Use Survey, conducted by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, offers a comprehensive look at how people allocate their time across various activities, including paid work, unpaid domestic tasks, caregiving, education, leisure, and self-care. 

Key findings 

Employment Participation

• Women Aged 15–59: Employment-related activity participation rose to 25% in 2024, up from 21.8% in 2019.

• Men Aged 15–59: Participation increased to 75%, compared to 70.9% in 2019.

• Daily Time Spent on Employment: Men spent 473 minutes on employment-related activities, 132 minutes more than women, who spent 341 minutes.

Unpaid Domestic Work

• Women's Time: Women's time spent on unpaid domestic services dropped to 305 minutes per day in 2024, down from 315 minutes in 2019, signaling a gradual shift toward paid work.

• Men's Time: Men spent 88 minutes per day on such tasks, 201 minutes less than women.

Caregiving Responsibilities

• Participation: 41% of women aged 15–59 participated in caregiving for household members, compared to 21.4% of men.

• Time Spent: Women spent 140 minutes per day on caregiving, while men spent 74 minutes.

Other Activities

• Learning: Children aged 6–14 years spent 413 minutes per day on educational activities.

• Leisure/Culture: All participants spent an average of 171 minutes per day on leisure and cultural activities, with women spending 164 minutes and men 177 minutes.

• Self-Care: Individuals spent an average of 708 minutes per day on self-care activities, with women averaging 706 minutes and men 710 minutes.

Drivers of Change

• Economic Factors: Rising living costs and financial needs are pushing more women into paid work.

• Education and Awareness: Higher female literacy rates and increased awareness of labor rights are encouraging women to enter the workforce.

• Government Initiatives: Programs like the Emigration (Overseas Mobility Facilitation and Welfare) Bill and skill development initiatives are likely to further boost female labor participation.

International Trends

• U.S. Comparison: The U.S. has seen a 3.5% rise in women’s labor participation from 2021 to 2024, driven by higher education levels and access to less cyclical jobs.

• Global Context: India’s 25% female labor participation rate lags behind global averages but shows promise with recent growth.

Gender Disparities and Social Norms

• Persistent Gaps: Despite progress, women still shoulder 70% of unpaid domestic work and 62% more caregiving time than men.

• Economic Value of Unpaid Labor: The economic value of women’s unpaid labor is estimated at $270 billion annually, yet India allocates only 1% of GDP to care infrastructure, such as childcare and eldercare.

• Social Norms: The survey highlights traditional gender roles, with women bearing the bulk of caregiving and domestic duties, which limits their workforce participation and increases economic inequality.