Trend Analysis of Female Labor Force Participation in the Post-Covid Period with Sub-Regional Evidences from East and West Pune

In spite of centuries of female's contribution in ruling kingdoms, expanding trade, fighting wars, and influencing societies, modern India continues to experience prolonged gender inequalities even after having progressive economic policies, reforms, rising educational level, rapid economic growth and development. To understand the underlying reason behind such persistent gender issue, the study attempts to analyze all-India level Periodic Labor Force Survey (2017-2024) using time-series analysis and examine on-the-ground reality of female's residing and working in Pune's East-West urban zones such as Aundh-Baner, Kharadi, and Hinjewadi area using non-parametric Chi-square test by employing mixed-method approach and both primary and secondary tools of data collection. Primary data has been collected using a structured Google form questionnaire using probability sampling technique; while secondary data is taken from PLFS. The findings reveal minor growth among urban-rural women in national trend analysis with marriage and number of children as the two main underlying reasons behind low female participation at sub-regional level. The paper suggests the need for broader, sub-regional level, localized research for better and more comprehensive understanding of low female's participation rate in labor market by future researchers. It also recommends the need of institutional support to recognize female's dual contributions in both domestic and economic spheres of life.