The Economic Survey 2025–26 shows steady gains in women’s participation in education and parts of the workforce. However, official data also reveals sharp drop-offs during key life stages, especially the transition from education to employment and childbearing years, highlighting why access alone has not translated into sustained careers.
India’s gender story in education and employment is one of progress, but also of pause. The Economic Survey 2025–26 shows that more women are entering schools, colleges and parts of the workforce than ever before.
Yet, the same data also reveals a familiar pattern: women tend to drop out at critical transition points, especially when moving from education to employment and during childbearing years.
This gap between participation and continuity is one of the most important signals in the Survey’s gender-related data.
MORE GIRLS IN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES THAN BEFORE
The Education and Health and Social Sector chapters of the Economic Survey 2025–26 record steady improvements in female participation across levels of education.
Gender gaps in enrolment have narrowed significantly, particularly at the school level, reflecting long-term investments in access, infrastructure and incentives.
The Survey notes that girls’ enrolment has improved not only at the elementary stage but also in secondary and higher education, indicating greater continuation beyond basic schooling.
What the Economic Survey signals on women’s education
| Indicator | Direction of change |
|---|---|
| Girls’ school enrolment | Increasing |
| Gender gap in education | Narrowing |
| Higher education participation | Improving |
| Transition beyond school | Uneven |
While the Economic Survey does not claim full parity in education for boys and girls, it clearly establishes that access to education is no longer the primary barrier for most girls.
EDUCATION GAINS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY LEAD TO JOBS
One of the most striking insights from the Economic Survey is that educational progress has not translated proportionately into workforce participation.
Despite more women completing school and higher education, female labour force participation remains significantly lower than male participation.
The Survey shows that while female labour force participation has improved in recent years, the increase is uneven and concentrated in certain sectors and forms of work.
THE BIG DROP-OFF: FROM EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT
The transition from education to work emerges as a critical drop-off point for women.
The Economic Survey highlights that many women who complete education either:
- Do not enter the workforce immediately, or
- Exit the workforce early due to social, household or care-related responsibilities
This pattern is especially visible during early adulthood.
The Survey does not frame this as a lack of aspiration, but rather as the result of structural constraints that interrupt continuity.
CHILDBEARING YEARS REMAIN A MAJOR EXIT POINT
Another clear trend in the Survey’s data is the decline in female workforce participation during childbearing and caregiving years.
While the Survey avoids normative conclusions, it points to:
- Care responsibilities
- Limited access to flexible or secure employment
- Uneven availability of support systems
These factors continue to affect sustained participation.
Gendered participation across life stages (Survey interpretation)
| Life stage | Participation trend |
|---|---|
| Education years | Rising |
| Early working age | Drop-off |
| Childbearing years | Sharp decline |
| Later working years | Partial re-entry |
WHERE WOMEN ARE WORKING: NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT MATTERS
The Survey also flags that a large share of employed women are concentrated in:
- Self-employment
- Informal work
- Low-paying or flexible roles
While this reflects economic participation, it also highlights vulnerability and limited job security.
Nature of women’s employment
| Employment type | Survey observation |
|---|---|
| Self-employment | Significant share |
| Regular salaried jobs | Lower representation |
| Informal work | High |
| Job continuity | Uneven |
The Survey suggests that participation gains alone are not enough without stability and continuity.
SKILLING AND EDUCATION HELP, BUT ARE NOT A SILVER BULLET
While skill development and education initiatives have expanded access, the Survey indicates that skilling alone cannot overcome structural barriers faced by women in the labour market.
Improved access to training has helped entry into work, but sustained engagement remains limited without supportive work conditions.
THE CORE MESSAGE FROM THE SURVEY
Taken together, the Economic Survey 2025–26 presents a nuanced gender story:
- More women are studying
- More women are entering the workforce
- But many are not staying long enough to build sustained careers
This gap between access, entry and continuity is the central challenge flagged by the data.
The Survey stops short of prescriptions, but its numbers clearly show that participation gains do not automatically translate into long-term workforce engagement.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR INDIA’S GROWTH STORY
For a country with a young population and rising education levels, women’s sustained participation is critical.
The Survey’s data quietly reinforces that unlocking women’s economic potential is not just about education or entry-level jobs, but about continuity across life stages.
As India expands its workforce and skilling ecosystem, the gender dimension remains one of its most consequential variables.