Estimation of Unpaid Labor and Care Economy in India: Exploring Gender Roles, Economic Contributions, and Policy Implications

Abstract

Unpaid labor and the care economy form a critical yet undervalued segment of India’s economic and social structure, predominantly shouldered by women due to entrenched gender norms. This research seeks to estimate the scale, economic value, and gendered distribution of unpaid labor—encompassing domestic work, childcare, eldercare, and community services—in India, using a mixed-methods approach that integrates time-use data, econometric modeling, and qualitative insights. Drawing on the 2019 Time Use Survey (TUS) by the National Statistical Organisation and supplementing it with primary data from rural and urban households, the study aims to quantify the contribution of unpaid work to India’s GDP, assess its impact on women’s labor force participation, and explore the socioeconomic and cultural determinants of its gendered allocation. Recent literature underscores that women spend significantly more time (up to 7-8 times) on unpaid care than men, contributing an estimated 7-32% to GDP, yet this work remains invisible in national accounts. This proposal builds on such findings to address gaps in valuation methods, regional disparities, and policy frameworks, proposing strategies for recognition, reduction, and redistribution of unpaid labor to enhance gender equity and economic growth. By combining quantitative estimates with narratives from caregivers, the study aims to offer a holistic understanding of the care economy’s role in perpetuating gender inequality and its potential as a lever for sustainable development.