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Labor Market Shocks, Social Protection and Women's Work

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  • Sangwan, Nikita
  • Sharma, Swati

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities women encounter in labor markets worldwide. We investigate the potential of social protection measures in mitigating declines in women's labor market participation. Specifically, we look at the Indian context, where lockdowns spurred a reverse migration of male workers from urban to rural areas, exerting pressure on rural labor markets. Despite a 6% rise in reliance on India's largest demand driven employment guarantee scheme, our analysis reveals a 0.4% decrease in women's participation during the pandemic, equivalent to a loss of 11,500 person-days of work. However, a gender quota provision helped sustain women's employment status. In districts where the reservation quotas had not been exhausted pre pandemic, women's share in public works increased by 2.7%. Our findings underscore the need for mandated provisions and targeted programs for women to counteract labor market withdrawals and bolster overall labor market participation in times of crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangwan, Nikita & Sharma, Swati, 2024. "Labor Market Shocks, Social Protection and Women's Work," QBS Working Paper Series 2024/04, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:qmsrps:202404
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sangwan, Nikita & Kumar, Shalander, 2021. "Labor force participation of rural women and the household’s nutrition: Panel data evidence from SAT India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    2. Afridi, Farzana & Dhillon, Amrita & Li, Sherry Xin & Sharma, Swati, 2020. "Using social connections and financial incentives to solve coordination failure: A quasi-field experiment in India's manufacturing sector," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Farré, Lídia & Fawaz, Yarine & González, Libertad & Graves, Jennifer, 2020. "How the COVID-19 Lockdown Affected Gender Inequality in Paid and Unpaid Work in Spain," IZA Discussion Papers 13434, IZA Network @ LISER.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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