Women's Share in Tech Roles Within Non-Tech Sectors Rises to 14% by 2024

Female representation in technology roles within non-tech industries has increased from 1.90% in 2020 to 14% in 2024, according to analysis released by TeamLease Digital on May 28, 2025. The staffing firm's data covers contractual tech workforce trends across various sectors over the four-year period.

The growth represents progress in addressing gender imbalances in technology positions, though disparities remain across industries and skill levels. Women now constitute 27.98% of India's overall tech contractual workforce in 2024, up from 9.51% in 2020.

Industry variations show significant differences in female participation. The banking, financial services and insurance sector leads with 46.88% women in tech roles, while lifesciences and healthcare follows at 29.58%. Manufacturing and engineering lags at 4.82%, with the energy sector recording 6.25% female representation.

Geographic factors influence these numbers, with tier-I cities showing 15.88% female representation compared to 7.58% in tier-II cities. This gap reflects differences in opportunities and hiring practices between urban centers.

Technical skill positions show lower female participation across sectors. In manufacturing and engineering, women represent 23.68% of technical roles versus 19.08% in non-technical positions. The energy sector records particularly low technical participation at 4.27% for women.

Leadership representation remains limited despite recent improvements. Women hold 3.35% of senior tech roles in non-tech sectors, 4.07% of mid-level positions, and 3.03% of entry-level roles as of 2024. However, mid-level female representation increased from 4.98% in 2023 to 5.14% in 2024, while senior positions grew from 3.95% to 4.86%.

India's technology sector has historically been male-dominated, with women facing barriers including limited access to technical education, cultural stereotypes, and fewer advancement opportunities. Government initiatives and corporate diversity programs have attempted to address these challenges, though progress has been gradual.

The contractual workforce data reflects broader trends in India's technology employment landscape. Contract positions often serve as entry points for career advancement and skill development, making diversity in this segment relevant for long-term industry composition.

Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, stated that the increase reflects movement toward inclusivity while highlighting persistent gaps in technical skills and leadership roles. The company suggests targeted interventions including upskilling programs and modified hiring practices to address remaining disparities.

TeamLease Digital operates as a specialized staffing firm focusing on technology roles. The company reports having hired over 80,000 professionals and currently manages 9,000 associates across 200 clients. Their analysis draws from placement data across multiple industries and geographic regions.

The findings indicate that while overall female participation in tech roles has grown, achieving parity will require addressing industry-specific barriers and expanding access to technical training programs. The data suggests that sectors with traditionally higher female participation, such as BFSI and healthcare, may provide models for other industries seeking to improve diversity outcomes.