Rethinking Participation Rates: Female Labour Force,Unemployment and Barriers in Northeast India

Abstract

This study explores trends and patterns in female labour force participation and their major determinants in the northeastern region of India. By using the National Sample Survey Office Employment and Unemployment Surveys and the Periodic Labour Force Survey, this study finds the stylized facts of structural transformation, where a large number of females shifted from agriculture to other sectors over four decades (from 1983 to 2023–2024). Findings show that female labour force participation rates (LFPRs) in the northeastern states remain consistently lower than the all-India average, highlighting persistent socio-economic and structural constraints. Further, the findings indicate that more than 60% women are engaged in unpaid domestic work. By employing the probit and instrumental-variable probit models, it explores the major factors that determine female labour force participation in the region. We also found that education level is negatively related to the female LFPR, as higher unemployment rates are observed for highly educated females. These results underscore the need for regional policies to enhance female participation and balanced regional development.