Tue Apr 01 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Despite Increased Employment, Urban Indian Women Still Bear Brunt of Unpaid Household Work: Survey

**New Delhi, April 1, 2025** – A new survey reveals a persistent gender disparity in household chores in India, despite a rise in urban women’s participation in paid employment. While more women are entering the workforce, the percentage undertaking unpaid domestic work, including cooking, cleaning, and childcare, has also significantly increased.

Data from the Time-Use Survey (2019 and 2024), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), shows that the share of urban women engaged in unpaid household work rose from 79.3% in 2019 to 81% in 2024. Concurrently, the percentage of urban women in paid employment increased from 15.5% to 18%. Although the proportion of urban men participating in domestic work has also risen (from 23% to 28.5%), the disparity remains stark.

The survey further highlights that the share of urban women caring for children, the elderly, and the sick also increased, from 25.9% to 31.8%, while the corresponding figure for men rose from 12.9% to 17.3%. While some Northeastern states show relatively higher male participation in household chores, the trend is consistent across most of India. Even in states where women’s participation in paid work is comparatively higher (such as Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh), over 80% still handle the majority of domestic responsibilities.

The findings underscore the significant double burden faced by many Indian women, juggling both paid employment and the overwhelming majority of unpaid domestic work. The survey calls for further analysis and policy interventions to address this persistent gender imbalance.

Read More