India Inc set ambitious gender diversity targets for the current year, but was falling short at the last count. Women employees constituted 26% of the India Inc workforce across sectors while companies had planned to increase their number to 31.4% this year, shows a survey of 775 companies across sectors, carried out by Aon, and shared exclusively with ET.
Top sectors that have the highest percentage of women employees are ITES, software products and services, retail, and professional services including consulting. Data for the survey was collated between December 2021 and January 2022.
The fact that 50% of the total population would make up for only about 25% of the working population across sectors may not be a viable option for corporate India in the long run, especially when research shows that having a diverse workforce fosters creativity and innovation. As Zarin Daruwala, Cluster CEO, India and South Asia markets (Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka), Standard Chartered Bank told ET, “Organisations play a catalytic role in maximising the potential of their women colleagues. Studies show that while women’s aspirations match those of men at the start of their careers, they tend to get left behind subsequently due to family expectations.” ET brings you a lowdown on the performance of some of the key sectors on the gender diversity front and the challenges they face.
Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/the-india-inc-report-card-on-gender-diversity/articleshow/90061441.cms