Across South Asia, stories of successful working women coexist with a troubling statistic: the region has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates globally. According to the World Bank’s latest South Asia Development Update: Women, Jobs and Growth, only 32 percent of working-age women are employed compared to 77 percent of men.
Despite three decades of strong economic growth and advancements in gender parity in education and legal protections for women, employment levels for women have not matched those seen in other emerging markets. Many women leave the workforce entirely after marriage.
The report suggests that increasing female labor force participation rates to match those of men could boost regional incomes per capita by up to 51 percent. However, barriers such as limited childcare and elder care services, unsafe transport, restricted access to training and finance, and few job opportunities outside agriculture hinder progress.
Runu Hazarika from Assam, India is an example of overcoming these obstacles. Her business operating a Bhutbhuti—a traditional boat—thrives due to improvements recommended by a World Bank study aimed at making transportation more inclusive for women. "I am now earning a living, and also serving my community," Runu states.
In Bangladesh, Halima found new opportunities through the World Bank-financed WeCARE Program. Learning road safety management skills allowed her to become one of 795 women employed by the local engineering department. "I don’t have to reach out to people for help anymore," she says.
Maya Gurung from Nepal collaborates with local governments to train women in sustainable product creation through her cardamom fiber business. She benefits from networks like BEES dedicated to empowering South Asian entrepreneurs like her. "We thought that the traders did not understand our problems... now it is good to see they are responsive," Maya comments.
Lanka Perera in Sri Lanka avoided career stagnation with specialized training through the World Bank's WePower SAR-100 program. "The SAR-100 training helped me gather new perspectives," Lanka explains.
The region faces challenges in changing mindsets about women's roles in the workforce, as conservative gender attitudes persist among 70 percent of the population opposing women's work outside the home. Despite these challenges, prioritizing gender equity remains crucial for sustainable economic growth across South Asia.
Maya, Lanka, and their peers demonstrate that when women work, they fulfill personal ambitions while contributing significantly to communities and economies. The call is clear: #clearherpath for more inclusion of women in South Asia’s workforce is both just and economically wise.