Research

Quick Take: Women in the Workforce—India

Jul 11, 2018

POPULATION

By 2050, India Will Be the Most Populous Country in the World1

In 2017, 1,281,935,911 people lived in India.2

But by 2050, India’s population will increase by 323 million, the largest population increase of any country.3

This gender population gap starts at birth. For every 100 boys born nationally, 90 girls are born.4

  • Women constitute 48.5% of the population.5
  • In 2011, there were 35,685,539 fewer women than men across India.6
India’s Demographic Skews Young

India has a large youth population with a median age of 27.9 years old (compared to 38.1 years old in the United States).7

  • Almost one-third (27%) of India’s population is younger than 15 years old.8
  • Only 6% of India’s population is older than 65.9

DIVERSITY

India’s Complex Culture is Illustrated in its Diverse Religions and Languages10
  • The Caste System (Jati) goes back thousands of years and continues to influence access to some jobs.11
  • The constitution has outlawed caste discrimination for employment and access to education, but not the caste system itself.12
Religions of India

EDUCATION

Women Are Closing the Higher Education Gap13

Nearly 27% of women (compared to 27% of men) are enrolled in tertiary education.14

LABOR FORCE

The Labor Force Participation Rate for Women Is One of the Lowest in the World15

Despite educational gains, the labor force participation rate for women in 2017 was 28.5%  (compared to 82% for men).16

  • In 2011-2012, 17.9% of the total employment in India was in regular wage and salaried positions, and in urban areas, the gender gap for this employment narrowed.17
  •  Of the 11.7 million urban working women in 2011-2012, almost 43% were in regular wage and salaried positions (up from 28.5% in 1993–1994).18
  • Young women are moving into non-traditional professional jobs, for example in communications.19

Increasing women’s labor force participation by 10 percentage points could add $700 billion to India’s GDP by 2025 (or a 1.4% increase).20

Reaching gender parity would have a bigger impact in India than in any other region in the world.21

India’s youthful demographic will add 234 million workers to the labor force by 2027.22

India’s Labor Force Will Soon Become the Largest in the World23

By 2027 the working-age population in India will be almost 20% (18.6%) of the entire global labor force.24

The Gender Pay Gap is Shrinking in India25

Women earn 62% of what their male colleagues earn for performing the same work.26

The Pipeline for Women Starts Small and Continues to Shrink27

140 women held 12.4% of board seats and just 3.2% of board chairs in 2017.28

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Aarti Shyamsunder, Alixandra Pollack, and Dnika J. Travis, India Inc: From Intention to Impact (Catalyst, 2015).

Aarti Shyamsunder and Nancy M. Carter, High Potentials Under High Pressure in India’s Technology Sector  (Catalyst, 2014).

Laura Sabattini, Expanding Work-Life Perspectives: Talent Management in India (Catalyst, 2012).

 

How to cite this product: Catalyst, Quick Take: Women in the Workforce—India (July 11, 2018).

 

  1. Population Reference Bureau, “2017 World Population Data Sheet With Focus on Youth” (2017).
  2. CIA, “India,” The World Factbook (2018).
  3. Population Reference Bureau, “2017 World Population Data Sheet With Focus on Youth” (2017).
  4. World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 (2017).
  5. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Statistical Year Book India 2017, “Table 2.1 Area and Population by States (Census 2011),” (2017).
  6. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Statistical Year Book India 2017, “Table 2.1 Area and Population by States (Census 2011),” (2017).
  7. CIA, “India,” The World Factbook (2018).
  8. CIA, “India,” The World Factbook (2018).
  9. CIA, “India,” The World Factbook (2018).
  10. Aparna Banerji and Amanda Yik, Diversity and Inclusion in Asian Country View: India, Community Business (2012).
  11. Donald Johnson and Jean Johnson, “Jati: The Caste System in India,” The Asia Society, August 19, 2008.
  12. Donald Johnson and Jean Johnson, “Jati: The Caste System in India,” The Asia Society, August 19, 2008.
  13. World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 (2017).
  14. World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 (2017).
  15. ILO, India Labour Market Update, July 2017 (August 8, 2017).
  16. World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 (2017).
  17. ILO, India Labour Market Update, July 2017 (August 8, 2017).
  18. ILO, India Labour Market Update, July 2017 (August 8, 2017).
  19. International Labor Organization, Global Employment Trends for Youth 2017: Paths to a Better Working Future, (2017): p. 45.
  20. Jonathan Woetzel, Anu Madgavkar, Rajat Gupta, James Manyika, Kweilin Ellingrud, Shishir Gupta, and Mekala Krishnan, The Power of Parity: Advancing Women’s Equality in India, McKinsey (2015).
  21. Jonathan Woetzel, Anu Madgavkar, Rajat Gupta, James Manyika, Kweilin Ellingrud, Shishir Gupta, and Mekala Krishnan, The Power of Parity: Advancing Women’s Equality in India, McKinsey (2015).
  22. Jonathan Woetzel, Anu Madgavkar, Rajat Gupta, James Manyika, Kweilin Ellingrud, Shishir Gupta, and Mekala Krishnan, The Power of Parity: Advancing Women’s Equality in India, McKinsey (2015).
  23. Vincent Del Giudice and Wei Lu, “India Seen Topping Global Labor Force In Next Decade, Data Show,” Bloomberg (August 31, 2017).
  24. Vincent Del Giudice and Wei Lu, “India Seen Topping Global Labor Force In Next Decade, Data Show,” Bloomberg (August 31, 2017).
  25. Wage Indicator Foundation, Monster Salary Index 2016 Gender Pay Report- Ready Reckoner (2017).
  26. World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report 2017 (2017).
  27. Aarti Shyamsunder, Alixandra Pollack and Dnika J. Travis, India Inc.: From Intention to Impact (Catalyst, 2015).
  28. Deloitte, Women in the Boardroom: A Global Perspective – Fifth Edition (2017).

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