Multiplier Effect of Increasing Female Employment: Assessing Impacts in Urban Centres

Aims & Objectives: This study seeks to examine through primary field survey in different urban town types the impact of a multiplier effect of increasing female employment predominantly among the socially marginalized groups as a consequence of women’s participation as educated professionals and semi professionals in regular salaried work. What are the individual or household characteristics that tend to generate demand for this kind of second round employment creation? The overall social and economic consequences of such participation among the socially marginalized groups is sought to be examined in this project based on a study of two regions – North and East India. West Bengal and the National Capital Region (NCR) are selected for purposes of this study. This study proposes to conduct sample surveys in four cities – Delhi and Kolkata (tier I) and Asansol and Noida (tier II).

The research questions being addressed through the study include:

• Are there certain types of jobs into which women are entering that have the potential to create the second round of employment opportunities?
• Which women and from what typology of households tend to find themselves supplying their labour services for care work such as maids, cooks, ayahs, baby sitters, etc.?
• Does the elongation of the extremities created by virtue of the educated professional women at the top of the labour market hierarchy on the one hand and at the very bottom on the other aggravate socioeconomic inequalities or does it help in bridging the income gaps by providing the option of an alternative earning (howsoever low) avenue?
• In what ways does this income earning capacity change or influence women’s lives?
• Does their position and status – as an individual, within the household as well as in society ‐ undergo any change as a result of their earning status?
• Does the city size, that is, whether it is tier‐I megacities or tier II matter?

Methodology: A listing survey has been done in selected wards based on Census information to cover a total of 3200 households across all four cities. Based on four strata of women working and hiring domestic workers; women working and not hiring domestic workers; non‐working women and hiring domestic workers and non‐working women not hiring domestic workers, a sample of 480 will be selected for the survey. A Report based on data analysis and papers will be prepared and published. Planning and coordination for Delhi and Noida; data analysis and report writing is presently being done.