Are Indian Startups the Only Safe Haven for Women Professionals?

 

The participation of women in the Indian workforce has witnessed a noteworthy increase over the past six years, according to the recently published Careernet report titled The State of Women’s Employment in India. The report highlights a 6 percentage point rise in women’s placements—from 26% in CY2019 to 32% in CY2024—based on a thorough analysis of 30,000 placement samples collected annually between 2019 and 2024.

This trend is a strong indicator of the nation’s steady movement towards gender diversity in the workforce. The report offers critical insights into hiring across sectors, cities, and experience levels, shedding light on both the progress achieved and the areas requiring strategic focus.

Women’s Placement Trends: Key Highlights

Over the last six years, one in every three candidates placed by Careernet was a woman, the highest representation recorded in that period. Interestingly, this ratio has remained consistent over the past two years, confirming a sustained emphasis on gender-balanced hiring.

Table 1: Year-wise Female Placement Trends (CY2019–CY2024)

Year	Percentage of Women Placed
CY2019	26%
CY2020	27%
CY2021	29%
CY2022	30%
CY2023	31%
CY2024	32%

Sectoral Insights: BFSI and Start-ups Lead the Way

The Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) Global Capability Centres (GCCs) emerged as champions of women’s hiring, consistently improving year by year—from 40% in CY2022 to 44% in CY2024. Other domain-specific GCCs have also shown steady demand for female professionals.

Additionally, start-ups have registered an impressive 9 percentage point increase in women’s hiring between CY2022 and CY2024, demonstrating a proactive and inclusive culture. On the contrary, domestic enterprises saw a 5 percentage point decline in 2024, signalling a pressing need for renewed focus on diversity in traditional sectors.

Table 2: Sector-wise Women Participation (CY2022–CY2024)

Sector	CY2022	CY2023	CY2024
BFSI GCCs	40%	43%	44%
Start-ups	27%	32%	36%
IT Services	29%	30%	30%
Domestic Enterprises	28%	27%	22%

City-Wise Hiring: Tier-I and Tier-II City Trends

In terms of geographical distribution, Bengaluru (32%), Delhi/NCR (28%), and Hyderabad (27%) emerged as the top Tier-I cities for female hiring in 2024. However, Mumbai trailed behind at just 25%, recording the lowest placement rate among Tier-I cities.

A striking trend was observed in Delhi/NCR, which rose significantly from 20% in 2022 to 28% in 2024, reflecting a dramatic increase in opportunities for women in the region.

Tier-II cities also witnessed a 5 percentage point rise in women’s placements over the last three years, highlighting the role of emerging urban centres in promoting inclusive employment practices.

Experience Level Analysis: Room for Growth in Leadership Roles

When looking at hiring by experience, freshers continue to dominate, although there was a minor decline of 2% from CY2023. Women placements at the mid-level (3 to 12 years) remain stable, ranging from 23% to 27% across years.

However, the representation of women at senior leadership levels (12+ years) remains a concern. It stood at 19% in CY2024, down 1% from the previous year, but up 2 percentage points since CY2022, suggesting slow yet positive long-term change.

Table 3: Experience-Level Hiring Trends in CY2024

Experience Level	Women Placement (%)
Fresher’s	~33% (estimated)
Mid-Level (3–12 yrs)	23–27%
Senior-Level (12+ yrs)	19%

Conclusion: Encouraging Growth Amid Challenges

The Careernet 2024 report reveals that India is making measurable progress in gender inclusivity across sectors, especially in BFSI, startups, and Tier-II cities. However, challenges such as the drop in female hiring in domestic enterprises and underrepresentation in leadership roles signal the need for targeted policy interventions and organizational reforms.

“The evolving landscape of women’s employment in India reflects both progress and areas that require sustained efforts. The rise in women’s hiring across start-ups and Tier-II cities underscores a positive shift towards inclusivity,”
— Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer, Careernet

As organizations and policymakers strive toward a more equitable work culture, continuous tracking of such trends and focused action will be key to achieving true workplace gender parity.

References

·         Careernet (2024). The State of Women’s Employment in India Report.

·         Business Standard. "Women placement increased 6% point to 32% in last six years: Report."

·         Economic Times. “BFSI GCCs and Start-ups drive India’s female hiring momentum.”