Synopsis
India's tech contractual workforce has seen a drastic rise in female participation, increasing from 9.51% in 2020 to 27.98% in 2024. Despite this progress, challenges in leadership roles and pay equity remain prevalent, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts towards true gender parity.Key Takeaways
- Female participation in tech contractual roles rose to 27.98% by 2024.
- Women in senior leadership positions increased marginally to 13.60%.
- The gender pay gap in GCCs stands at 16.10% overall.
- IT services saw female participation rise to 21.2%.
- Ongoing structural changes are needed for true parity.
New Delhi, March 26 (NationPress) India’s tech contractual workforce has experienced a remarkable transformation over the last four years, with the proportion of women rising from 9.51 percent in 2020 to 27.98 percent in 2024, as detailed in a report released on Wednesday.
The study, conducted by the staffing company TeamLease Digital, analyzes data from 13,000 contractual professionals and provides a thorough examination of trends within the tech contractual sector from 2020 to 2024.
In addition to the notable increase in female representation in contractual jobs, the report highlights ongoing challenges related to senior leadership roles and pay equity.
This rise in women's participation has been fueled by improvements in digital infrastructure, expanded access to remote work, and the growth of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, according to the findings.
The report emphasizes that Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have made the most significant strides in enhancing gender diversity, with female representation soaring from 31.4 percent in 2020 to 38.3 percent in 2024.
However, despite these advancements at the entry level, women's presence in senior leadership roles remains disappointingly low, with only a marginal increase from 11.43 percent in 2020 to 13.60 percent in 2024, the report states.
“While we celebrate the increasing number of women in tech contractual positions, we must acknowledge that achieving authentic gender parity necessitates ongoing efforts and a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond merely hiring more women,” remarked Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital.
“The absence of representation in leadership roles and the ongoing gender pay gap emphasize the necessity for long-term structural reforms. Companies must strive to foster environments where women can not only enter but also advance and lead in their careers,” Sharma added.
Pay gaps continue to be a critical concern in GCCs. The overall gender pay disparity in GCCs is currently at 16.10 percent, with a larger gap of 16.4 percent at senior levels.
In highly sought-after tech roles, the gender pay gap reaches 22.2 percent, while in non-tech roles, it is significantly lower at merely 0.8 percent. These statistics underscore the necessity for increased female representation in specialized positions.
Meanwhile, the IT services industry also observed a rise in female workforce participation, increasing from 7.8 percent in 2020 to 21.2 percent in 2024, reflecting efforts to implement more inclusive hiring practices.
However, this uptick has not translated into substantial career advancement, as women's representation in mid-level roles grew from a mere 4.13 percent in 2020 to 8.93 percent in 2024, according to the findings.
