Context:

The Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has provided valuable insights into the time spent by individuals in various activities, with a particular focus on gender roles and economic participation. 

Key Findings: 

·        The TUS 2024 indicates a rise in women’s participation in paid employment, with 25% of women aged 15-59 engaging in employment-related activities, up from 21.8% in 2019.

·        However, men still outpace women in employment, spending 132 minutes more on paid work (473 minutes vs. 341 minutes).

·        Meanwhile, women continue to spend a disproportionate amount of time on unpaid domestic tasks, dedicating 201 more minutes per day than men (289 minutes vs. 88 minutes).

Caregiving & Domestic Work:

• A significant gender disparity remains in caregiving activities. The survey reveals that 41% of women participated in caregiving, compared to only 21.4% of men. 

·        Women spent an average of 140 minutes daily on caregiving, while men spent 74 minutes. Despite a reduction in the time spent on unpaid domestic work—from 315 minutes in 2019 to 305 minutes in 2024—women still shoulder a greater domestic burden than their male counterparts.

Learning & Skill Development:

• The survey also highlights the high engagement of children (6-14 years) in learning activities, with 89.3% of them spending an average of 413 minutes daily. 
• However, both boys and girls have seen a slight decline in time spent on learning activities, a worrying trend that may indicate emerging educational setbacks.

Leisure, Mass Media & Social Activities:

• Time spent on leisure, culture, mass media, and sports rose to 11% of daily time, up from 9.9% in 2019. However, while women spent an average of 139 minutes socializing and communicating, men’s participation in these activities decreased slightly from 147 minutes to 138 minutes.

Positive Trends and Challenges

Positive Trends:
The rise in women’s workforce participation, which increased from 8% in 2019 to 25% in 2024, marks a notable shift towards paid employment for women.

The reduction in the time women spend on unpaid domestic work, although modest, reflects a move toward gender balance in household responsibilities.

Furthermore, higher participation in caregiving activities by both men and women acknowledges the importance of caregiving roles.

Challenges:
Despite these positive changes, challenges remain. Women still spend significantly more time on unpaid domestic work than men, and male participation in caregiving is minimal. 

The persistent rural-urban divide also remains, as rural areas show a higher engagement in self-production activities compared to urban areas, highlighting ongoing economic inequalities.

Furthermore, both men and women have reduced their time spent on learning activities, signaling potential setbacks in youth education.

Conclusion

While the 2024 Time Use Survey shows progress in women’s workforce participation, it also highlights the persistent gender disparities in unpaid domestic work and caregiving. Addressing these issues through targeted policy measures and social reforms will be crucial for achieving gender parity and fostering inclusive economic growth.