India’s tech contractual workforce has seen a significant shift over the past four years, with female participation increasing from 9.51 per cent in 2020 to 27.98 per cent in 2024, highlighted a report from Staffing firm TeamLease Digital.
This growth is driven by advancements in digital infrastructure, increased access to remote work opportunities, and the expansion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
According to TeamLease Digital’s ‘Gender Parity—Shaping Workforce Equity’ report, among all sectors, Global Capability Centers (GCCs) have made the most progress in improving gender diversity, with female workforce representation rising from 31.4 per cent in 2020 to 38.3 per cent in 2024. This increase can be attributed to structured DEI policies, global workforce strategies, and intentional steps fostering a more inclusive workforce across the organisational hierarchy.
However, despite improvements at the entry-level, women’s representation in senior leadership positions remains low, growing only marginally from 11.43 per cent in 2020 to 13.60 per cent in 2024.
Despite these advances, pay disparities remain a pressing issue in GCCs. The overall gender pay gap in GCCs stands at 16.10 per cent, with a more pronounced gap of 16.4 per cent at senior levels. In high-demand tech roles, the gender pay gap reaches 22.2%, while in non-tech roles, the gap is considerably lower at just 0.8 per cent.
In the IT Services sector, female workforce participation increased from 7.8 per cent in 2020 to 21.2 per cent in 2024.
However, this increase has not translated into significant career progression, as women’s representation in mid-level roles grew from just 4.13 per cent in 2020 to 8.93 per cent in 2024, indicating women face significant barriers to advancing beyond entry-level roles.
Further, the report found that the representation of women in senior leadership roles has seen a fluctuating trend over the past few years. In 2021, women held a 4.36 per cent, which rose significantly to 7.39 per cent in 2024, only to see a decline in the same year, as the percentage of women in senior leadership roles fell to 6.91 per cent.
The gender pay gap in IT Services presents another challenge. While the overall pay gap stands at 3.55 per cent, it widens to 6.12 per cent at mid and 8.34 per ent at senior levels, reinforcing women’s limited upward mobility in the sector.
The struggle to retain female talent beyond the entry level is driven by systemic challenges such as unconscious bias in promotions, a lack of mentorship opportunities, and workplace policies that do not fully support long-term career growth for women. In non-tech roles within the Services sector, the pay disparity widens to a notable 18.3 per cent, according to the report.
Neeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital, further emphasized: “While we celebrate the growing presence of women in tech contractual roles, we must recognize that achieving true gender parity requires sustained efforts and a multi-faceted approach that transcends hiring more women. The lack of representation in leadership positions and the persistent gender pay gap indicate the need for long-term structural change. Companies must work towards creating environments where women can not only enter but also grow and lead in their careers.”
“Workforce equity is not an option but rather a business necessity. Organizations that prioritize gender inclusivity benefit from diverse perspectives, stronger innovation, and improved financial performance. At TeamLease Digital, we remain committed to driving this change by advocating for fair pay practices, career progression opportunities, and a culture of inclusion that empowers women at every level of employment.”
