A recent analysis of India's labor market reveals a concerning trend: workers are putting in fewer hours than before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), self-employed individuals saw their weekly working hours plummet from 46.6 hours in 2018-19 to 39.6 hours in 2025. Casual workers experienced a similar decline, with hours dropping from 43.1 to 41.2 hours, while salaried workers recorded a modest decrease from 50.2 hours to 48.8 hours. This decline is attributed to weak aggregate demand, particularly affecting small enterprises and informal workers. Real monthly earnings for self-employed workers rose slightly to ₹7,617 in 2025, while salaried workers saw earnings increase to ₹11,634. Gender disparities are evident, with men's working hours decreasing to 45.9 hours and women's to 34.1 hours. Rural women faced the steepest decline, with working hours falling to 32.6 hours. Despite an increase in female labor force participation, this is largely due to distress-led employment, especially in agriculture, rather than skill-based job opportunities.