A Deep Dive into Regional Variations, Gender Gaps, and Economic Impact

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A Deep Dive into Regional Variations, Gender Gaps, and Economic Impact

A Deeper Look

A Note," delves into data from the 2019 Time Use Survey by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), revealing critical insights into work culture, productivity, and economic disparities.

The average Indian spends 422 minutes, or approximately 42 hours, per week on paid work. However, this figure masks significant regional and demographic variations. Government employees work 45 minutes less per day than those in private or public limited companies. Notably, urban government workers spend an hour more daily on the job than their rural counterparts.

Dr. Ravi's paper highlights striking disparities in work hours across states and industries. Union Territories like Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli report over 600 minutes of daily work, while Goa and Northeastern states average under 360 minutes. Workers in tertiary and secondary sectors log significantly longer hours than those in the primary sector. However, Goa's primary sector bucks this trend with comparatively higher work hours.

The study reveals stark differences in work patterns based on gender and social groups. Urban women work two hours less daily than men, while rural women trail their male counterparts by 1.8 hours. Scheduled Tribes report fewer work hours than other groups, while Other Backward Classes (OBCs) align with the national average.

Dr. Ravi's analysis underscores the connection between work hours and economic productivity. A 1% increase in working time is linked to a 1.7% rise in per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP). For larger states, this impact is even stronger—a 3.7% boost in NSDP for every 1% increase in work hours.

Currently, Gujarat has the highest proportion of its population—7.21%—working over 70 hours weekly, compared to just 1.05% in Bihar. These figures, coupled with significant differences across sectors and demographics, raise important questions about whether a one-size-fits-all push for longer workweeks is practical or even fair.