INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MODERNIZATION IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE

Abstract

This research paper investigates labour force participation in Bihar, India, focusing on rural-urban disparities and gender dynamics. The study utilizes data from multiple rounds of the NSSO household survey on "Employment-Unemployment" and the PLFS data from 2017-18 and 2021-22. Logistic regression analysis is employed to identify the determinants of labour force participation in Bihar. The findings reveal that rural men consistently exhibit high labour force participation rates (LFPR), while LFPR for rural women has declined over the years. In urban areas, LFPR for men has also declined, whereas there has been a slight increase for women. Comparatively, Bihar's LFPR falls below the national average, with a significant gender gap in rural areas. The analysis identifies various factors influencing labour force participation, including family size, age, marital status, education, caste, and gender. It is observed that larger family sizes negatively impact labour force participation across both rural and urban areas. Moreover, individuals aged 30-44 and 45-64 have higher odds of participating in the labour force than the reference group (15-29 years). Marriage and widowhood significantly increase the likelihood of labour force participation, while being in a general category and belonging to the top 20 percentile income group decrease the odds. Furthermore, education positively affects labour force participation in urban areas, and having multiple jobs increases the likelihood across all areas. The study underscores the need for policies targeting gender disparities in rural Bihar and emphasizes the significance of demographic, social, and economic factors in shaping labour force dynamics. The findings contribute to evidence-based decision-making and inform policymakers, government agencies, and stakeholders involved in labour market planning and development in Bihar.

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