Gender Disparities in Wages among Casual Labourers and Agricultural Workers in India: A Statistical Analysis in the Context of SDG 5

Abstract

Background: Gender-based wage disparities remain a critical challenge to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which advocates for gender equality and the empowerment of women. In India, despite substantial economic growth, women often remain underpaid compared to their male counterparts, particularly in casual labour and agricultural sectors. Understanding the magnitude and trends of these disparities is crucial to addressing systemic inequalities and informing policy reforms.
Methods: This study utilized secondary data obtained from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) for the years 2017-2021. Descriptive statistics were employed to examine wage distributions and test for normality. Nonparametric methods, including the Mann-Whitney U test, were applied to evaluate gender differences in labourer and agricultural wages. The Kruskal-Wallis test was further used to compare the magnitude of wage disparities across years. Data were analysed separately for male and female workers across occupational categories.
Results: The analysis revealed consistent and statistically significant gender-based wage disparities. Male casual labourers reported a higher mean rank wage (239.87) compared to females (131.13), with p < 0.001. Similarly, male agricultural workers (225.69) earned significantly more than female workers (145.31), also with p < 0.001. The Kruskal-Wallis test confirmed that wage gaps persisted across years, though the magnitude of disparities widened over time in both labourer and agricultural work, particularly in 2020 and 2021. Regional trends further highlighted variations, with certain states exhibiting larger wage differences.
Conclusion: The findings underscore persistent gender wage inequality in India's labour and agricultural sectors, which poses a substantial barrier to achieving SDG 5. The consistent statistical significance of disparities across years highlights structural imbalances in the labour market. Policymakers must prioritize targeted interventions-such as equal pay legislation, social protection measures, and skill development programs-to reduce the wage gap and foster gender-inclusive economic growth.