The DivHERsity Benchmarking Report for 2023-24 reveals a gender disparity in Indian companies, with women's representation dropping to 19 per cent at mid-management and senior levels. This indicates a gap in the advancement of women into C-suite roles. Startups and SMEs have slightly higher female workforce participation rates than large enterprises, but there is a gap in C-suite hiring for women in Indian companies. Factors contributing to this gap include cultural norms, workplace policies, and women's disproportionate care responsibilities, which affect their availability and commitment to work.
38 percent of women participate in entry-level recruitment at large enterprises. In 2022, the hiring of women at C-suite levels has fallen to 24 per cent, down from 37 per cent. The startups and SMEs showcased 36 per cent of the workforce signifying improvement, however, women participating in Indian enterprises remained at 34 per cent.
The survey shows that 84 per cent of companies have dedicated initiatives for recruiting women, and 98 per cent of large enterprises have committed to gender diversity goals in hiring. Startups and SMEs have a 97 per cent success rate. Returnee programs have also been conducting women returnee-specific hiring drives.
