Women Apprentices in India Increase by 58% In Three Years

By: WE Staff | Friday, 9 January 2026

• Women’s representation in apprentices in India is up by 58%  in three years
• The female apprenticeships rose from 124,000 in 2021–22 to 196,914 in 2023–24
• This growth is particularly striking in a labor market in which female labor market participation is low

Women’s participation in the apprenticeship program has seen an increase of 58 per cent over the last three years, although the employment of women as a whole remains under five per cent in the country.

According to a report compiled by the TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, working in cooperation with the Global Apprenticeship Network and the India Employer Forum, women apprentices have risen from 124,000 for the period of 2021-22 to 196,914 for 2023-24.

Yet it is in this context that this number is rising because policymakers and companies have been trying to bridge the gap in employment for women in India, who make up only a small percentage of its GDP despite comprising almost half of its potential workforce.

According to a report, almost 18 percent of the GDP of India is contributed by women, and degree apprenticeships could be the bridge between education and work for women who could be employed and receive remuneration in jobs.

As per the same, the Female Labor Force Participation Rate in India is at 31.7 percent. Participation is forecast at 29 percent in women aged 15 to 29 years, and 45 percent in women aged 15 to 59 years. Approximately 60 percent of the women in the labor force remain uncovered.

According to government statistics, the situation for females has been improved since the inception of the Periodic Labour Force Survey, which took place in 2017.

However, the Ministry of Labour & Employment records show that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) rose from 23.3 percent in the year 2017-18 to 32.8 percent in 2021-22. This is mainly because many rural women joined the workforce in self-employment or unpaid family assistance instead of wage employment.

It is observed by labour economists that the situation in India is not the same as that of some other emerging nations.

Research work published in the “International Journal of Research in Social Science and Humanities” reveals that female participation rates in countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia are higher due to labour-intensive manufacturing segments and proper governmental initiatives.

The research from PLFS data indicates that an increase in women’s labour force participation has been linked positively to enhancements in productivity, welfare, education and health outcomes for children.

It has also been suggested that there are connections between increased employment of women and the development of greater income and resistance to economic shocks.

Kathryn Rowan, Executive Director of GAN Global, said that economic development through equitable access to apprenticeship models is critical for keeping talent pipelines strong and will create a fully sustainable economy.

Therefore, the major task for the Indian government, in its quest for Vision 2047, is to realize how to capitalize on progress made in apprenticeship programs in terms of increased labor force participation by women.