The role of time spent in unpaid domestic work on educational outcomes among adolescents and young adults: quantitative evidence from India

Abstract

Higher education among youth is crucial for India’s socio-economic development. Despite policy efforts, challenges persist in retaining students beyond elementary school and improving inclusivity and education quality. Using the UDAYA dataset from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, we examined how unpaid domestic work affects educational outcomes. Findings from survey-adjusted logistic regression models showed that more time spent on unpaid domestic work was associated with greater likelihood of discontinuing education, absenteeism, and lesser likelihood of reading and arithmetic abilities among 12–23 years old, with some evidence of greater burden among girls. This relationship was attenuated by investing more time in academically productive work. There is a need for targeted educational interventions for disadvantaged youth and to emphasize the importance of expanding quality services to reduce the burden of unpaid domestic work on young people.