India workforce mobility shows significant gender commute gap

A recent travel survey by the National Statistics Office reveals a notable gender divide in commuting patterns across India. Data shows that 62% of working men travel more than 1 km to their workplace, compared to only 42% of working women, representing a 20-percentage-point gap.

Commuting modes are heavily dominated by two-wheelers (42.6%) and walking (28.3%), while rail-based transport, including metro services, accounts for only 2.1% nationally. This reliance on personal and non-motorized transport suggests potential barriers to accessing employment located further from residential areas.

The findings raise concerns regarding “spatial entrapment,” where workers may be confined to local employment due to the high costs or difficulties of longer commutes. While shorter travel times might suggest efficiency, they may also indicate limited job access driven by financial constraints, safety concerns, or unpaid care responsibilities.