South Asia continues to struggle with one of the lowest female labour force participation rates globally, with over 400 million working-age women outside the workforce. A recent conference co-hosted by the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) and the World Bank explored key barriers and potential solutions to enhance women’s participation in the labour market.

Speakers highlighted major obstacles, including safety concerns, lack of social networks, slow wage growth, inadequate training, hiring discrimination, and restrictive social norms. Workplace safety remains a critical issue, with limited reporting of harassment deterring women from employment. Studies from Bangladesh show that improved reporting mechanisms could expose the widespread nature of the problem.

Social networks also play a crucial role in securing jobs, yet married women in South Asia often lack these connections. Expanding digital access, as seen in Jordan, or strengthening community-based networks, as in India’s self-help groups, could help bridge this gap. Training programmes have also proven effective, with initiatives in Nepal and Bangladesh increasing female entrepreneurship and career progression.

Wage disparity further discourages women from joining the workforce, particularly in India, where women’s wage growth has been significantly lower than men’s. Meanwhile, hiring discrimination remains a major challenge, with women in Pakistan facing limited opportunities due to workplace restrictions.

Encouragingly, India’s female labour force participation has risen from 21.6% in 2018-19 to 35.6% in 2023-24. However, much of this growth is concentrated in unpaid or self-employment in rural areas, highlighting a lack of quality job opportunities.

Experts stress that no single measure can dramatically improve South Asia’s female workforce participation. Instead, a combination of policies, societal shifts, and workplace reforms—similar to the transformations seen in Saudi Arabia and Sweden—will be essential to drive lasting change.