India’s digital advancement has been continuously fueled by the growing proportion of women in the tech workforce. However, compared to the predicted percentage of males in the industry which stands at 36.1 lakh, there are significantly fewer women (20.5 lakh), as of 2024, a report has found. It adds that 24.3% growth is estimated in women’s participation in the tech workforce on all levels by 2027.
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According to the ‘Women at the Heart of India’s Digital Evolution’ report by TeamLease Digital, this is primarily due to the multiple challenges women encounter, including low educational enrolment among young women, lack of quality opportunities, the gender pay gap, safety concerns, societal norms, discriminatory workplace practices, a lack of upskilling/reskilling as well as returning to work policies, etc.
A continual increase in the number of women joining or re-entering the tech workforce must become a reality, and increased involvement by women can only be genuinely realised as and when the aforementioned obstacles are addressed.
The report takes a deep dive into various aspects, including the total women’s tech workforce in India, women’s employment in GCC and in the non-tech sector, city-wise trends of women workforce expansion, in-demand and futuristic tech roles for women, and challenges faced by women in tech, among others.
It also discusses the future outlook for women working in the tech workforce, which includes a projected 24.3% increase in women’s participation across all levels – entry/freshers, junior, mid-senior, leadership, and C-Suite levels. The following are the details covered extensively in the report:
Changing dynamics of women’s participation in the workforce:
As our country strives to capitalise on its demographic dividend, with the world’s largest working-age population, which is predicted to reach over 70% by 2030. We can no longer afford women’s underrepresentation in the workforce.
Trends indicate that the next five years will be critical for the country to attain an 8% GDP growth rate and that women must account for more than half of the new workforce generated by 2030. The gender disparity in India’s labour force, attributable mostly to conservative societal norms and influenced by both demand-side and supply-side variables, remains the most enduring contradiction of recent decades.
Breaking barriers: Cracking tech roles in non-tech industries:
Speaking of facilitating greater female participation in tech, there are expected to be several reforms, including return-to-work programs, efforts to close the pay gap, the implementation of well-structured role models for STEM professionals, and the establishment of open pathways for equal opportunity, actively implemented by organisations. Further, the report offers a glimpse of the scenario of the tech women workforce in non-tech sectors.
According to the report’s findings, on average, more than 40% of women would be hired for both non-tech and tech-related positions in the BFSI, Manufacturing, Consumer, and Retail sectors by FY 2025. The average number of women in tech positions in non-tech companies is projected to rise by 9%.
According to city-specific statistics, the percentage of women joining the workforce from tier-1 cities (55%) outnumbers that of tier-2 cities. Female hiring is projected to centre in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat in the coming months, with talent being hired in locations such as Chennai, Pune, Nasik, Coimbatore, Kochi, Aurangabad, and Vadodara. Currently, in the manufacturing segment, Tamil Nadu accounts for 43% of the total employed female workforce.
A hierarchy of inequality:
Additionally, the Women at the Heart of India’s Digital Evolution report revealed the comparison of gender representation across all hierarchical levels for men and women. It was found that the fresher level had the highest concentration of women, standing at 34%.
However, this percentage gradually declines as the hierarchy rises, with 26% of women in the junior level (3-5 years’ experience), 18% in the mid-senior level (5-15 years’ experience), 11% in leadership roles (15-20 years’ experience), and a mere 8% in the C-suite/boardroom level. The decline in women in leadership positions is ascribed to a lack of opportunities, support for women with caregiving responsibilities, and fewer mentors and role models.
Fostering diversity in GCCs:
TeamLease Digital’s report also delves into Women’s Employment in Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and reveals significant insights into the landscape. In India, the GCC model is now gradually evolving from executive-driven to ownership-driven, with employees across designations taking on full responsibility for several business functions.
The report highlights an anticipated surge in the women workforce as the industry witnesses a continued focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Currently, women constitute 35% of the GCC workforce, with a predominant 81% in IT roles, 16% in Operations, 2% in Marketing, and approximately 1% in Finance. The report forecasts a notable rise in the tech women workforce in GCCs, expected to escalate from the current 25% to 35% by 2027.
Upon examining the job roles that women have been forecast to be highly sought after in the future, the report presents a number of intriguing findings. Tech roles such as Quantum Computing Scientist, Blockchain Developer, AI Ethics Officer, AI Researcher, Cybersecurity Analyst, 5G Technology Specialist, Sustainability in Tech Expert, Smart City Technology Planner, and Edge Computing Specialist will be sought after in the coming years.
The report, which is also solution-oriented, contains details on how women’s participation in the workforce can be boosted.
Promoting STEM education for girls, implementing gender-sensitive hiring practices, creating inclusive workplace cultures, encouraging mentorship and networking, addressing the wage gap, enhancing legal and policy frameworks, and establishing accountability mechanisms are some of the proposed recommendations to increase women’s participation in the workforce.
Neeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital said, “With only 0.5% of the total female workforce engaged in tech roles in non-tech sectors, there is a pressing need to amplify female participation in this domain. Having said that, the tech sector is increasingly prioritising the employment of women and India’s women’s STEM participation stands at 43% globally which is the highest in the world. This would further grow this year based on the sustained efforts of the government and women-centric programs enabling increased participation of women in tech, inclusive maternity and childcare support.”
“While the overall annual growth of women employed in the tech sector is projected to be 5.5% over the next 5 years, more concerted efforts are required from companies, policymakers and governmental initiatives to pave the way for a more equitable and encouraging future of women in India’s digital journey,” added Munira Loliwala, AVP of strategy and growth at TeamLease Digital.
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