foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), India’s leading talent platform, today released data regarding the participation of women in the Indian white collar economy. The data revealed that there has been a 56% increase in jobs for women candidates in Feb’24 when compared to Feb ’23.
According to the data from foundit, women who opt for freelancing jobs have doubled over the past year, jumping from 4% in Feb 2023 to 8% in Feb 2024. This exponential increase can be attribute to the convenience that the Gig or the freelancing industry offers to participants. Work-life balance is one of the key challenges in career growth for women, and with freelancing, most women are able to leverage their potential fully.
Commenting on this trend, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit (previously Monster APAC & ME), a Quess company, said :
“Female workers play a major role in the success of a company. They are proven to be hardworking and creative. The theme for the International Women’s Day this year is ‘Inspire inclusion’, and we believe that companies must actively practice diversity beyond their hiring brochures. At foundit, women currently constitute 35% of the workforce and we hope to increase this number in the coming years. Female leaders often demonstrate transformational leadership qualities, and having more women in a team promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”
IT/Computers – Software sector has the highest demand for women professionals; top roles hiring women include IT professionals and HRs
The report reveals that the IT/Computers – Software sector leads in offering opportunities to women, comprising 36% of its workforce. This indicates the industry’s commitment to an inclusive work culture, which is beneficial for both employee engagement and retention. The Recruitment/Staffing/RPO sector (24%) has the second highest share of women in the workforce, followed by the BFSI sector (23%). Engineering and Production has traditionally been less welcoming to women due to its demanding working culture and the use of heavy machinery. However, the sector has shown six-fold growth over the past year, largely driven by the EV and automobile industry growth in India.
| Top 5 Industries Hiring Women | Feb’22 | Feb’23 | Feb’24 |
| IT/Computers – Software | 24% | 35% | 36% |
| Recruitment/Staffing/RPO | 5% | 20% | 24% |
| BFSI | 13% | 22% | 23% |
| Advertising/MR/PR/Events | 2% | 7% | 8% |
| Engineering and Production | 1% | 1% | 6% |
The rapid pace of technological advancement has highlighted the critical need for skilled talent. This poses a challenge for all, especially women, who are force to take a break due to family responsibilities. The concerns associated with skill degradation make it difficult for women to return to the workforce. A few of the job roles that have showcased positive hiring sentiments towards women include IT professionals (25%), Human Resources (18%), Sales & BD (12%), and Marketing & Communications role (10%). While people-centric jobs are consider to be more accepting of women, the Customer Service/Call Center/BPO roles have seen a 10% decline in hiring. This decline suggests that companies in this sector are re-evaluating their operational strategies, including workforce requirements, to align with the market’s changing demands and automation.
| Top 5 Functions Hiring Women | Feb’22 | Feb’23 | Feb’24 |
| IT | 20% | 23% | 25% |
| Human Resource | 12% | 18% | 18% |
| Customer Service/Call Center/BPO | 11% | 25% | 15% |
| Sales & BD | 5% | 12% | 12% |
| Marketing & Communications | 4% | 8% | 10% |
Bengaluru and Hyderabad lead in hiring women over the past year; Delhi tops the chart when it comes to female participation in the workforce
As per the data from foundit, the participation of women in the workforce has been positive and steady across the metro cities of Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune. This also highlights the progressive mindset of people today and the financial stability that an additional income brings to modern families. The presence of diversified industries in these cities and the higher cost of living encourage women to be a part of the workforce.
| Across cities | Feb’22 | Feb’23 | Feb’24 |
| Delhi/NCR | 9% | 21% | 21% |
| Bengaluru | 21% | 10% | 17% |
| Mumbai | 7% | 15% | 15% |
| Hyderabad | 7% | 7% | 11% |
| Chennai | 2% | 9% | 9% |
| Pune | 7% | 7% | 8% |
Growth for women in leadership roles
The foundit report suggests that there has been a noteworthy increase in leadership opportunities for women, with 9% of job postings specifically targeted towards leadership positions in February ’24.
An interesting insight to note is that the share of women returnees has also increased from 6% in Feb ’23 to 7% in Feb ’24. A majority of the leadership roles are accepting of women returnees. These trends highlight the encouraging developments in gender inclusion and opportunities for women in the workforce. It’s indicative of progress towards more equitable and diverse employment practices.
Timeframe for the report
The timeframe for the report is February 2024 vs February 2023.
About foundit – APAC & Middle East
foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is a leading talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. Since its inception, the company has been assisting over 90 million registered users in finding jobs, upskilling, and connecting with the right opportunities across 18 countries. Additionally, foundit has recognize as a Great Place To Work, reflecting its dedication to fostering a supportive and dynamic work culture.
Over the last two decades, the company has been a catalyst in the world of recruitment solutions with advanced technology, seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalised job searches and precision hiring.
