Indian companies are promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives, but women's representation is uneven across roles, according to a survey by Manpower Group. While some roles have more women, there is a gap in top-level management roles with 49 per cent and under-representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics roles with 53 per cent. Trust, relationship building, employee well-being, and positive culture are crucial for recruitment and retention.
The survey shows that 57 per cent in administrative, frontline management, and operational roles have more than a fair share of women. 43 per cent of leadership development programs include women from diverse backgrounds, 80 per cent of employers mention the power of technology provides great flexibility, and 70 per cent say AI tools are helping organizations accommodate diverse backgrounds and recruit without gender bias. Sandeep Gulati, MD of ManpowerGroup India and Middle East mentions, "India's gender diversity is among the best worldwide and it is encouraging to see women's participation in the workforce increasing. Organizations have realigned their hiring strategies by mandating women hiring at every level across sectors."
Diversity initiatives are boosting women's representation in various industries, with companies formalizing return-to-office policies and integrating flexible work arrangements. These policies provide psychological safety and work-life balance benefits. In the tech sector, gender diversity is becoming a priority, with improved diversity ratios in Global Capability Centers. However, challenges like hiring biases and the glass ceiling persist. The World Economic Forum emphasizes the importance of integrating Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) into core business strategies for sustainable growth.
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