It’s 2025 and the participation of women in the labour force in India does not give us much reason to cheer. Not only that, women occupy very few decision-making posts, too.
Women make up 48.4% of India’s population but contribute less than 18% of the GDP, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Report. Women’s participation in the labour force stands at 32.7%, with 78% in vulnerable employment like low-paying and seasonal jobs.
Here’s a glimpse of the percentage of women in different decision-making sectors: Lok Sabha (14%), Rajya Sabha (15.2%), State Assemblies (9.2%), sitting High Court judges (14%), Supreme Court judges (4%), Central government jobs (10 to 11%), State government jobs ( 25 to 30%) and Central public sector organisations (5 to 8%).
But, as we enter 2025, there’s a glimmer of hope for gender inclusivity in the technology sector. In 2024, many women stepped into leadership roles in global technology corporations in India — a promising trend that is likely to continue, according to industry insights. Many of these appointments are at Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with about 25% of the women employed in the tech sector being in GCCs. According to The Economic Times, this figure is slated to rise to 27% by 2027. Despite this, however, women leaders account for just 14.5% of top positions in GCCs.
While top IT firms like Infosys, TCS, Wipro and Tech Mahindra have never had women at the top, at executive levels, IT firms in general have done better than GCCs, with 8% in the former and 6.7% in GCCs.
Will 2025 see women occupying top positions in many more organisations and sectors in India? We are watching this space.
InkSights is a monthly art series by NWMI member Anupama Bijur viewing current affairs through a gender and news lens.
