Female Labour Force Participation Rates in Assam: Trends, Composition and Determinants

Abstract

In India, since the 1970s, there is a declining trend in the female labour force participation. Given the fast economic growth, declining fertility rate and rising women’s educational enrolment in the past few decades, this decline is puzzling. Assam is not an exception to this trend of declining female labour force participation rate (LFPR). This study is an attempt to analyse the patterns and determinants of female LFPR in Assam during the period from 2004 to 2011. The analyses are based on National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) unit-level data of three rounds of employment and unemployment surveys. This article probes female LFPR across age cohorts, education, economic groups, social groups, status, etc. Probit regression models are used on the latest available data. An important result of the article is, status concerns measured by caste interacted with land possession impede the labour force participation of women.