- According to a recent report, women will make up 14 percent of the contractual tech workforce in 2024
- Technology positions in non-tech industries are also affected by the trend, which goes beyond core tech companies
Women are gradually stepping into traditionally male-dominated technology roles, even in non-tech sectors, as India Inc. continues on its path to gender parity. Female representation in contract tech roles in non-tech industries has increased dramatically, from 1.90 percent in 2020 to 11.8 percent in 2023 and 14 percent in 2024, according to a recent report by the specialized staffing company TeamLease Digital.
This pattern represents a gradual but significant move in the direction of greater inclusivity. While the increase in female participation is encouraging, there are still large gaps in technical skills and leadership roles that call for focused interventions, according to Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital.
With overall female representation in tech roles across non-tech sector’s increasing from 9.51 percent in 2020 to 27.98 percent in 2024, the report also notes a wider increase in gender diversity. Nonetheless, there is still disparity in gender representation across industries.
While manufacturing and engineering (4.82 percent) and energy (6.25 percent) continue to lag behind, sectors like BFSI (46.88 percent) and life sciences and healthcare (29.58 percent) exhibit relatively high female participation. These discrepancies are frequently caused by ingrained hiring practices, cultural preconceptions, and a lack of opportunities for women to advance their skills in essential technical roles.
Women only occupy 3.35 percent of senior roles, 4.07 percent of mid-level roles, and 3.03 percent of entry-level roles, according to the report's alarming leadership representation statistics. However, there has been a minor but encouraging change from 2023 to 2024, with female representation rising from 3.95 percent to 4.86 percent in senior roles and from 4.98 percent to 5.14 percent in mid-level roles.
To unlock diverse talent pools and spur sustainable innovation across India's employment landscape, Neeti underlined the significance of facilitating equitable access to resources, eliminating barriers specific to a given industry, and empowering women to take on a larger share of the workforce.
