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Women in Blue Collar Jobs

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March 17, 2025

Why in the News?

A recent study finds that Women hold just one in five blue-collar jobs.

The term blue-collar worker refers to individuals who engage in hard manual labor, typically in the agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, or maintenance sectors of the economy.

  • Covered Industries - Across 14 industries, including automobile, BFSI, e-commerce, travel & hospitality, FMCG, and manufacturing.
  • Covered Cities - Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.
  • Recent Findings - While 73% of the surveyed employers said they hired women for blue-collar roles in 2024, female participation remained stagnant at 20% across India.
  • Industries such as retail (32%), healthcare and pharmaceuticals (32%), construction and real estate (30%), and travel and hospitality (28%) showed increased female representation.
  • However, telecommunications, BFSI, and IT/ITeS lagged, with female participation below 10%.
  • Upcoming Demand - During the survey, 78% of employers revealed plans to hire more women in blue-collar roles in 2025, an encouraging 5% increase in hiring intent compared to 2024.
  • Industries like retail (94%), healthcare and pharma (93%), and e-commerce (93%) showed the strongest demand.
  • The Reality Gap - As per the survey, while more women are seeking blue-collar jobs primarily for financial independence (70%), workplace realities remain harsh.
  • It identified 3 major challenges that continue to push women to the margins.
    • Rigid work schedules,
    • Wage inequality, and
    • Lack of upskilling opportunities.
  • More than half of the surveyed women cited a lack of flexible shifts as a barrier.
  • Several blue-collar jobs often demanded strict shift timings, making it difficult for women to balance work and personal responsibilities.
  • Around 42% of women reported being underpaid compared to their male counterparts, with fewer opportunities for promotions.
  • In industries like automobile, FMCG, and travel & hospitality, more than half of the women surveyed felt their wages did not reflect their work.
  • Every second woman surveyed preferred upskilling, but access to relevant training remained a challenge.
  • Without structured learning pathways, career progression remains limited.

India’s blue-collar sector is expected to see more than 2 million job seekers in 2025.

Reference

The Hindu | Women in blue-collar jobs

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