Improved mobility can improve women’s workforce participation from 4 per cent -6.9 percent, according to a new study.

The report by Uber and Oxford Economics is based on a survey of Uber riders from five Indian cities – Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

The report revealed that access to mobility can increase the women in workforce from 0.32 million-0.56 million, resulting in a one percent increase in the economy.

Addressing the event where the report was released, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, discussed the data in the report. “Today we have 2 crore women enrolled in higher education institutions but if you look at the numbers behind it, the transition for women who had let’s say completed their 12th standard to higher education institutions is less than 25 per cent,” news reports quoted her as saying.

The report also revealed that four out of 10 working women riders felt that ride hailing would be an enabler for their workforce participation.

50% of them also said that ride hailing made them strike a balance between work and family responsibilities.

At least 75 per cent of the women who opted for cabs said that safety was an important factor. At least 32 per cent of the working women riders said that ride-hailing enabled them to access a wider pool of suitable work opportunities, broadening their horizons and career prospects.