Contractual job opportunities for women concentrated in metro, industrial hubs: Report

Employment opportunities for women, particularly in contractual roles, are primarily concentrated in metropolitan and industrial hubs, and there is huge potential to expand such scope in tier II and III cities, a report said on Monday.

Contractual employment opportunities for women are currently concentrated in metropolitan and industrial hubs, with Maharashtra leading with 28.7%, followed by Tamil Nadu (14.2%) and Karnataka (14.1%), staffing and workforce solutions provider TeamLease Services said in a report - 'No Women Left Behind 2.0'.

States like Telangana (7.8%), Gujarat (7.2%), and Uttar Pradesh (6.6%) also contribute significantly to contractual employment opportunities, especially for women, it added.

Even as urban centres drive employment, the report noted that there is huge potential to expand opportunities in tier II and III cities for broader workforce inclusion.

The report is based on TeamLease Services' internal data of 38,000 associates scrutinising gender-based disparities and comprehensive insights.

Meanwhile, the report revealed that retail (29.8%), IT (20.7%), and financial services (18.9%) lead in employing women in contractual roles.

However, sectors like manufacturing (10.8%), power and energy (5%), and telecom (4%) see lower representation, underscoring the need for greater gender inclusion, it added.

Women's enrolment in higher education, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), is driving greater inclusion in high-skill industries like retail, IT, and financial services.

Meanwhile, the report also found that women's contractual workforce is predominantly young, with 62.2% aged between 18 and 27 years and 29.4% between 28 and 37 years of age.

Participation of women sharply declines in later stages, with 6.6% in the 38-47 age group and only 1.9% beyond 48 years, it said.

This trend highlights the strong presence of young professionals in contractual roles, while older age groups see reduced participation, reflecting the evolving nature of workforce engagement across different career stages, stated the report.

"Women's workforce participation in India shows a clear divide across metropolitan cities and smaller towns. This can be levelled out with good company policy, especially looking at the opportunities in tier II and III cities. Education levels also enhance this divide," TeamLease Services CEO - Staffing Kartik Narayan said.

"Those with minimal or high education are more actively engaged, while mid-level graduates follow distinct employment patterns. However, contractual employment has emerged as a key enabler, particularly for women aged 18 to 37, providing critical access to diverse industries, skilling opportunities, and financial stability."

As India aims to increase women workforce participation to 70%, strengthening the contractual workforce ecosystem through targeted skilling programmes, career transition support, and industry initiatives will be essential, he said.

"By fostering structured career growth and reducing barriers, we can create a more inclusive and economically empowered workforce for women across all backgrounds," Narayan added.