FEMALE WORKFORCE IN RURAL AREAS OF KERALA: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THE WAY FORWARD

The participation of women in the rural workforce plays a vital role in promoting inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable rural development in Kerala. Although Kerala has achieved remarkable progress in literacy, health, and gender development, the labour force participation rate of rural women remains relatively low compared to their educational attainment. Rural women contribute significantly to agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries, cottage industries, micro-enterprises, self-help groups, and informal sector activities. However, they continue to face numerous challenges, including gender discrimination, wage inequality, limited employment opportunities, unpaid care work, lack of skill development, restricted access to credit, technological barriers, and inadequate social security. Recent economic transformations, migration, mechanisation, climate change, and changing agricultural practices have further influenced women’s employment patterns in rural Kerala. This study examines the status of the female workforce in rural areas of Kerala by analysing labour force participation, employment opportunities, occupational distribution, socio-economic challenges, and policy interventions. The study also investigates the role of education, skill development, entrepreneurship, Kudumbashree, and government employment programmes in promoting women’s economic empowerment. Furthermore, the study identifies emerging opportunities for improving women’s participation in the rural economy and proposes strategies for strengthening sustainable employment and gender-inclusive development. The findings contribute to a better understanding of rural women’s employment dynamics and provide valuable insights for policymakers, development agencies, and researchers working towards women’s economic empowerment and inclusive rural development in Kerala.

Keywords

female workforce, rural women, kerala, labour force participation, employment, women’s empowerment, kudumbashree, rural development.

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To cite this article

Sreekala, S. (2026). Female Workforce in Rural Areas of Kerala: Challenges, Opportunities and the Way Forward. Sparkling International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Studies, 9(2), 52-64.