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Women Outpace Men in India's Job Readiness, Heralding Inclusive Workforce
13 Nov
Summary
- Women's employability climbs to 54%, surpassing 51.5% for men
- Digital learning and remote work open doors for women's career growth
- Flexible work and mentorship programs help retain skilled women professionals
As of November 13, 2025, a significant shift has occurred in India's workforce landscape. The India Skills Report 2026 reveals that for the first time, women have surpassed men in job readiness, with their employability climbing to 54% compared to 51.5% for men.
This symbolic turning point reflects India's steady progress toward inclusive skilling and employment. The report, released by ETS in partnership with CII, AICTE, and AIU, paints an optimistic picture of a nation transitioning into a "skill-first economy." India's overall employability has improved to 56.35%, supported by AI-driven training, digital education, and a wider reach of skill development programs in smaller towns.
Industry experts attribute the gender shift to the rise of digital learning and remote work, which have helped women, particularly from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, gain access to training and flexible career options that were once out of reach. Platforms offering short-term certifications in tech, finance, and design have become "game-changers," enabling women to upskill faster than ever before.
As a result, the quality of female candidates has improved significantly in recent years, with more women applying for roles in data analytics, digital marketing, and project management areas that were once male-dominated. Companies are now proactively redesigning roles and policies to attract and retain skilled women professionals, including flexible work arrangements, mentorship programs, and gender-neutral evaluation systems.
However, the report also highlights that the gap between employability and actual employment remains stubborn. Many qualified women still face unequal access to leadership roles, pay gaps, and cultural barriers that discourage long-term workforce participation. Experts caution that technology alone cannot fix these structural inequalities, and inclusion must be built into the design of hiring and promotion frameworks.
Nevertheless, the India Skills Report 2026 marks a significant milestone, capturing a social inflection point where skill, technology, and gender empowerment intersect, signaling the rise of a truly inclusive workforce in India.
