State Bank of India Review Published Women’s Contribution to Financial Decision-Making is Increasing

The economic role of women in India is no longer limited to just the household. A research report by the State Bank of India, the country’s leading banking institution, reveals that the standard of employment in families where women play a leading role is improving rapidly. When a woman leads a home, the family’s dependence shifts from insecure daily wage labor to honorable, regular, salaried jobs. Among such women, the likelihood of regular employment has increased by 4.4%, while dependence on daily wages has decreased by 4.2%. From this, it can be inferred that the country’s women are moving toward secure employment.
A survey conducted across the country, based on data from 2.70 lakh families and more than 11.48 lakh people, revealed that in urban areas, the probability of regular salaried jobs for female-headed households has increased by 10%. It is observed that women now prioritize stability and social security—such as corporate or institutional work—over uncertain small businesses.
In rural areas, the probability of female-headed households being engaged in daily wage labor has decreased by 5%, as families move toward small industries or regular work, reflecting their increased bargaining power. The female labor force participation rate in the country has reached 40%. Within this, the participation rate for rural women is 45.9%, while in urban areas, it is only 27.7%. According to the report, the possibility of self-employment has also increased among women who have received government training.