ISLE highlights rise in female labour force

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) organised the valedictory function of the 64th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE) on Sunday. The conference concluded its three day event with significant contributions from scholars, policy analysts, and industry experts, focused on dissecting the intricacies of the Indian labour market.
On the third day, the event kickstarted with a keynote lecture on “Growth and Employment in India” by Dr Soumyakanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser of the State Bank of India and a member of the 16th Finance Commission.  Leveraging data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), he addressed some myths surrounding the growth-employment nexus, spotlighting the rise in female labour force participation and the effects of government welfare measures and credit access schemes. His discussion also touched on youth unemployment and global employment trends, urging careful analysis of PLFS and CMIE survey data to avoid biases.
On the second day, the conference delved into “Intersectionality and Labor Dynamics,” with panel discussions highlighting care-giving challenges, transitions in the labour market, gender disparities across urban and rural sectors, gig economy experiences and the influence of social identity on labour outcomes. In-depth technical sessions examined the surge in gig economy roles, evaluating their effects on traditional employment paradigms and discussed the economic significance of unpaid care work, predominantly undertaken by women in shaping labour market participation trends.
Keynote speakers included Sukti Dasgupta, Director at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Rama Bijapurkar, renowned business advisor. They offered insightful perspectives on the “Political Economy of Care” and an analysis of “India’s Consumer Economy,” respectively. The day concluded with a Kuchipudi dance performance by Yamini Reddy, blending cultural heritage with academic discourse.
The conference wrapped up with a valedictory ceremony, where Priyanka Tyagi, CEO of the Institute of Human Development, alongside other dignitaries, welcomed guests. Alok Kumar Mishra (Professor, School of Economics, UOH) and Ritu Dewan (President, 64th ISLE Conference) shared opening remarks and a comprehensive overview of the conference deliberations.