How Apprenticeships are Paving the way for Greater Gender Parity in India’s Labor Market

India’s #labormarket is a complex tapestry, spanning informal, formal, primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, each with unique challenges and opportunities for women's economic empowerment. While efforts have been made to include more women in the workforce, India still faces gender disparities in labor participation. In this context, #apprenticeships stand out as a powerful catalyst for change, providing women with opportunities to enter and thrive in fields where they have traditionally been underrepresented.

Historical Context: Gendered Labor Inequality

As Karl Marx observed, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” This sentiment echoes deeply within India, where centuries of dynastic rule, colonial oppression and rigid caste hierarchies have profoundly shaped the workforce. For generations, women have borne the impact of systemic inequality, often restricted to domestic roles or low-wage jobs without security or growth. However, today’s economic reforms and educational advancements are steadily dismantling these barriers, and initiatives such as the Skill India Mission, STEP, and USTAAD are essential in equipping women with #skills for modern workplaces. Nevertheless, these efforts have only scratched the surface, as the numbers reflect: out of a 500 million-strong workforce, only 158 million are women, marking a significant gender gap that demands a stronger commitment to skilling and #workforcedevelopment

Empowering Women for Economic Participation

India’s diverse labor market comprises both formal and informal sectors, with the informal sector employing nearly 85% of the workforce and contributing over half of the country’s GDP. Encouragingly, the Female Labor Force Participation (FLFP) rate in rural areas has grown from 18-19% in 2017-18 to 30-32%, signaling progress. In the MSME sector, women’s participation has risen significantly, from 21.8 million in 2021-22 to 36.2 million in 2023-24. However, challenges persist in the formal sector, where urban female workers represent only 20-24% of the workforce compared to 33-34% of men, with even lower representation in technical training institutes.

Apprenticeships: Paving the Way for Inclusive Growth

Apprenticeships serve as an effective bridge, creating an inclusive environment that fosters women’s participation in the workforce. These programs blend on-the-job learning with classroom instruction, equipping women with practical skills and the confidence to excel in traditionally male-dominated industries like manufacturing, technology, skilled trades, and even emerging sectors such as robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence.

#Womenapprentices in sectors such as automotive engineering and information technology gain industry-specific experience, allowing them to explore career paths previously inaccessible.

Employers are increasingly recognizing the strategic value of integrating women into #apprenticeshipprograms By embedding apprenticeships within degree programs, companies can develop a more skilled talent pool, reduce hiring costs, and create a sustainable #talentpipeline Additionally, these programs strengthen brand equity, as community investment in apprenticeships attracts diverse talent and fosters loyalty and productivity.

Despite advancements, women make up only 24% of apprentices in India, signaling significant room for growth. This gap underscores the importance of expanding apprenticeships to bridge the divide between education and employability, enabling women to succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Strategies to Foster Women’s Participation in Apprenticeships

To accelerate progress, several targeted strategies can enhance women’s participation in apprenticeships and create a more #inclusiveworkforce:

1. Supportive Services: Providing childcare facilities, flexible hours, and mentorship can address the unique responsibilities women often carry and support their career aspirations.
2. Bias-Free Recruitment: Implement policies that promote unbiased hiring practices and proactively encourage women to pursue roles in traditionally male-dominated apprenticeships.
3. Showcase Role Models: Highlight successful women in apprenticeships to inspire aspiring female candidates and present diverse career pathways.
4. Awareness Campaigns: Educate stakeholders on the benefits of gender diversity in apprenticeships, challenging stereotypes about gender roles in technical fields.
5. Networking Opportunities: Establish networks for female apprentices to connect, share experiences, and support one another, fostering a community that promotes professional growth.

The engagement of over 581,000 women apprentices reflects India’s progress toward a more inclusive labor market. By adopting a gender-neutral approach in historically male-dominated sectors, employers play a crucial role in advancing women’s workforce participation. Apprenticeships are proving to be transformative, helping to uplift women, bridge longstanding disparities, and pave the way toward economic empowerment and gender equality in India.

The article, authored by our Chief Executive Officer AR Ramesh, was published in Financial Express