In 2024, Women and Youth Drive Workforce Participation Growth in India: Report
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New Delhi, Dec 26 (NationPress) In 2024, India experienced a remarkable surge in employment rates, with women and youth at the forefront of workforce participation, as detailed in a recent report.
The analysis from Apna.co, a platform dedicated to job and professional networking, revealed that women submitted a staggering 2.8 crore job applications, representing a 20 percent increase compared to 2023. Similarly, the youth demonstrated a 27 percent year-on-year growth in job applications.
In total, women accounted for 2.8 crore job applications out of 7 crore, marking a 25 percent increase year-on-year in 2024.
The growth has been primarily attributed to flexible work options, gender-focused initiatives, and the rise of women-led sectors such as e-commerce and healthcare.
Women have excelled in various sectors including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and e-commerce, while also taking on unconventional roles in field sales, logistics, and security services. Notably, applications for senior and managerial positions surged by 32 percent, highlighting the increasing impact of women in shaping India’s evolving workforce.
Major cities like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai dominated this growth with 1.52 crore applications, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow, and Bhopal contributed 1.28 crore, indicating a substantial rise in opportunities outside metropolitan areas, as stated in the report.
Additionally, the report highlighted a flourishing job market for freshers, with an impressive 27 percent year-on-year increase in job applications, surpassing 2 crore.
Rapidly growing sectors like IT, mobility, retail, BFSI, and services are driving demand as young professionals fuel innovation and expansion. Urban centers including Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad accounted for 60 lakh applications, while states such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar added 82 lakh, illustrating a balanced regional contribution.
Moreover, online job listings increased by 20 percent year-on-year, totaling over 12 lakh openings in 2024. This was primarily driven by digital transformation, growth in the Small and Medium Business (SMB) sector, and business expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, according to the report. Key industries such as BFSI, retail, healthcare, and logistics generated unprecedented demand, shaping India’s dynamic and resilient job market.
India’s SMB sector, comprising over 63 million enterprises, continues to be a vital economic engine, contributing 30 percent to GDP and employing millions across the country.
The hiring surge is also fueled by AI-driven recruitment technologies, with 45 percent of SMBs implementing AI in their hiring processes. This advancement led to the creation of 2.4 lakh job postings, decreasing the time spent on talent searches by 30 percent and cutting hiring costs by 25 percent.
