Women in Blue Collar Jobs

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