Do Time-Use Surveys Give a Higher Estimate of Women in Economic Activity?
type
Podcast
source publication
NCAER NATIONAL DATA INNOVATION CENTER MEASUREMENT BRIEF 2024: NDIC FELLOWS PROGRAMME
Abstract
How accurately do we measure women's economic activity and how can the measurement be improved? Traditional Labour Force Surveys (LFS) often falls short, especially in rural areas, by overlooking activities such as livestock rearing, firewood collection, and unpaid work in self employment. Why? These surveys rely on narrow definitions that don’t include the full range of women’s contributions, and they often reinforce biases rooted in social norms - that women are primarily identified with household chores and child care. Enter the 2019 Time Use Survey (TUS). Unlike standard surveys, TUS asked people to track all their daily activities without labeling them as economic or not. By using this approach, TUS captured a more comprehensive picture of women’s activities. For instance, when the survey data was used to expand the definition of economic activity to include primary production activities, such as farming and construction for own use, the percentage of rural women identified as economically active jumped from 20.8% in the LFS to a striking 32%. This jump highlights the critical importance of capturing all economic activities for women, particularly in rural communities where such contributions are indispensable.
Year
3-3-2025
Recommended Citation
Vijyamba R, 'Do Time-Use Surveys Give a Higher Estimate of Women in Economic Activity?' (NCAER, 2025)