Hyderabad : Despite Hyderabad’s strong economic growth and high workforce participation among men, only about one in three urban women were part of the labour force in 2025, pointing to persistent barriers that keep many women out of the job market even when they are willing and qualified to work, experts say.
Hyderabad recorded an urban female labour force participation rate (LFPR) of 34.6% in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025, highlighting a significant gender gap in employment participation. The figure was far lower than the city’s urban male worker population ratio (WPR) of 75.8%. Kohima topped the list with 54.8%, followed by Imphal West (52.3%), Shillong (49.8%), Thiruvananthapuram (45.1%), Gangtok (42.2%), Itanagar (39.1%), Bengaluru Urban (36.9%) and Raipur (36.3%). However, Hyderabad performed better than several other major cities, including Jaipur (29.9%), Kolkata (24%), Lucknow (20%), Bhopal (18.6%), and Patna (10.2%).
As a result, a lower female LFPR does not necessarily indicate a lack of willingness to work but may instead reflect structural and social constraints that limit women’s participation in the labour market, Motkuri said. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Hyderabad | Silver Rate in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Petrol Price in Hyderabad | Diesel Price in Hyderabad | CNG Price in Hyderabad | LPG Price in Hyderabad Stay updated with the latest Hyderabad news.
Associate professor at CESS, Venkatanarayana Motkuri, said the relatively low participation rate could partly be explained by the “discouraged worker” effect, where women who are willing and qualified to work stay out of the labour market because suitable opportunities are not available. Many women may possess the required qualifications and be interested in taking up jobs but may not enter the labour force when adequate employment opportunities, workplace conditions or support systems are lacking, he said. LFPR refers to the proportion of people who are either working or actively seeking and available for work. Among state capital districts, Hyderabad ranked 11th in urban female labour force participation. For women, factors beyond job availability often influence workforce participation. Family responsibilities, caregiving roles, safety concerns, commuting challenges and workplace support mechanisms can all affect their ability to seek and take up employment. Download the TOI App.