This study investigates the socio‑economic factors influencing women’s labour force participation in rural Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the crucial role played by women in agriculture, horticulture, livestock management, handicrafts, and household‑based
enterprises, their participation in formal labour markets remains relatively low compared with male participation. Using secondary datasets including the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) publications, government reports, and international labour statistics, the study examines the role of education, household structure, cultural norms, and participation in self‑help groups in determining women’s engagement in economic activities. The study adopts a simple econometric framework in which women’s labour force participation is treated as the dependent variable and education, household structure, cultural norms, and self‑help group participation are treated as explanatory variables. The findings suggest that higher levels of education significantly increase women’s probability of participating in economic activities. Similarly, membership in self‑help groups improves women’s access to financial resources and entrepreneurial opportunities, thereby positively influencing their participation in labour markets. However, the analysis also highlights that traditional social norms and restrictive household arrangements often limit women’s access to employment opportunities. The study therefore emphasizes the importance of policy interventions aimed at improving female education, promoting rural entrepreneurship, strengthening women’s self‑help groups, and addressing gender‑based social constraints. The findings contribute to the broader literature on gender economics and rural development and provide policy insights for enhancing women’s economic Participation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Keywords

Female labour force participation, gender economics, rural development, self help groups, education, Jammu and Kashmir