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PLFS 2025: Mumbai Gender Pay Gap at 2%, but Female LFPR at 26.9% Below Urban Average

EconomySocial IssuesPolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
06 Jul 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:Gender pay gap 2%Women regular salaried wage Rs 35,788/monthMen regular salaried wage Rs 36,453/monthFemale LFPR 26.9%Urban female LFPR avg 27.7%Women casual daily wage Rs 211
Bodies:National Statistics OfficeMinistry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
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What This Article Covers

1.PLFS 2025 data for 46 million-plus cities shows Mumbai has 2% gender pay gap in regular salaried employment (women Rs 35,788 vs men Rs 36,453 per month).

2.Female LFPR in Mumbai is 26.9% (below urban avg 27.7%), and 68.3% of women aged 30-59 are NEET (neither employed nor in education/training).

3.Sharp contrast in informal sector: women casual workers earn Rs 211/day (far below national avg Rs 366), while men earn Rs 712/day (above national avg Rs 582).

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The PLFS 2025 data for India's 46 million-plus cities reveals a paradox: Mumbai has one of the narrowest gender pay gaps (2%) in regular salaried jobs, yet female labour force participation (26.9%) is below the urban national average. The informal economy remains deeply unequal, with women casual workers earning just Rs 211/day against Rs 712 for men. This is crucial for understanding the structural barriers to women's economic participation and the quality of employment in India's largest cities.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Gender Pay Gap (Mumbai Regular Salaried)2% (women earn 98.2% of men's salary)
Avg Monthly Wage - Women Regular Salaried (Mumbai)Rs 35,788
Avg Monthly Wage - Men Regular Salaried (Mumbai)Rs 36,453
Female LFPR (Mumbai)26.9% (urban avg 27.7%)
Women Casual Workers - Daily Wage (Mumbai)Rs 211 (men Rs 712)
Women (30-59 age) NEET in Mumbai68.3% (urban avg 65%)
Women Outside LF citing Household Responsibilities68.4%
Avg Weekly Work Hours - Men (Mumbai)55.2 hrs (urban avg 49.7 hrs)
Avg Weekly Work Hours - Women (Mumbai)43.8 hrs (urban avg 39 hrs)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Gender Pay Gap (Mumbai Regular Salaried): 2% (women earn 98.2% of men's salary)
  • ›Avg Monthly Wage - Women Regular Salaried (Mumbai): Rs 35,788
  • ›Target this Data: Gender pay gap in Mumbai regular salaried jobs = 2% (women earn 98.2% of men's salaries). Female LFPR in Mumbai = 26.9% (urban avg 27.7%). Women casual workers daily wage in Mumbai = Rs 211.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Statistics Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) conducts PLFS.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: PLFS 2025 first provides estimates for 46 million-plus cities in India.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is primarily responsible for the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the PLFS 2025 findings for Mumbai:

1. The gender pay gap in regular salaried employment in Mumbai is 2%, with women earning 98.2% of men's average salary.

2. The female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in Mumbai is higher than the urban national average.

3. More than two-thirds of women in the 30-59 age group in Mumbai are classified as NEET (not in employment, education, or training).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the PLFS 2025, what is the average daily wage of women engaged in casual labour in Greater Mumbai?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary reason cited by women outside the labour force in Mumbai for not working, according to the PLFS 2025?

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