Women In India – Education has not translated to equivalent gains in employment

Female enrolment in colleges leapt from 10 per cent of total admissions at the time of independence to 41 per cent in 2010. 

However, this has not translated to equivalent gains in women’s employment. Indeed, in the past few decades, the percentage of urban and educated working women has been stagnant or even fallen. Overall, only 20 per cent of urban educated working-age women actually work. Further, nearly half of those drop out mid-career.

Simply put, 40 of every 100 college goers are female, but the advanced education they receive is used in a job only by 8 of the 40. About 3 years later, 4 of those 8 drop out. Urban, middle class, educated females, the prime benefactors of the women’s higher education revolution of the past generation, seem to barely aspire to a career, bid adieu in the first few years and never look back.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at  Newslaundry – The Dismal State Of Women’s Employment In India.