Gender Disparities in Employment Quality and Wage Differentials in India: Evidence from PLFS 2025

The study aims to assess the extent of gender wage inequality and differences in the Employment Quality Index (EQI) using the latest PLFS unit-level data. The results indicate the widespread persistence of gender wage inequality and employment-quality disparities favouring male workers. The detailed analysis indicates that gender wage inequality is less pronounced among younger workers and highly educated workers. The wage regression results show that, on average, female workers earn approximately 22 percent less than male workers, even after controlling for selected socioeconomic and employment characteristics. An analysis of the Employment Quality Index among regular workers in India further reveals a similar trend, with male workers enjoying better employment quality than female workers. Thus, the study clearly indicates that gender inequality in the labour market extends beyond access to employment and is reflected in both job quality and wages. Therefore, besides increasing women's participation in the labour market, improving their access to secure employment, social-security benefits and fair wages is essential for achieving greater gender equality and inclusive economic development.