Women continue to remain on the margins of high-skill technology roles in India, even as their participation in the broader IT workforce grows steadily. A recent study highlights that women account for nearly 35–38 per cent of the country’s IT workforce. However, this presence does not translate into specialised roles, where a clear gap in job readiness limits their entry and growth.
The concern comes at a time when India’s technology sector is heading toward a major talent shortage. Demand for advanced digital skills is rising rapidly, and the industry could face a shortfall of over 1.8 million skilled professionals by 2027. Despite this, women are not entering high-demand technical domains at the same pace.
The issue begins early in the education pipeline. Women represent around 43 per cent of STEM graduates, but their numbers decline sharply in engineering courses, dropping to about 30 per cent. The fall is even steeper in core engineering streams such as mechanical, electrical and civil, where female participation dips below 20 per cent.
This imbalance continues in the workforce. Women occupy only a small share of specialised roles in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and programming. Employability in these areas remains low, indicating a gap in advanced technical skills. Critical shortages are visible in areas such as coding, AI, automation, and emerging mobility technologies.
Apprenticeship programmes are emerging as a practical solution to bridge this gap. These initiatives combine academic learning with real-world experience, helping improve job readiness. They are particularly beneficial for women in smaller cities, where access to industry exposure is limited.
The report suggests expanding such programmes, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and addressing structural challenges such as safety, mobility, and workplace support to improve women’s participation in high-skill tech roles.
