Bengaluru, Mar 09: Women’s representation in job postings in India grew 19% year-on-year, marking one of the strongest expansions in recent years, according to Women in the Indian Workforce 2026, a hiring trends report released by foundit. The analysis, based on job-posting trends between February 2025 and February 2026, highlights a notable shift in employer intent; with women increasingly being hired across seniority levels, higher salary bands, emerging technology roles, and Tier-2 markets.
“We are seeing encouraging momentum in how women are being hired across India,” said Anupama Bhimrajka, VP – Marketing, foundit. “Opportunities are expanding beyond entry-level roles into senior positions, higher salary brackets, and growing talent hubs across Tier-2 cities. While a large share of openings still fall below ₹10 LPA, the broader trend indicates that access to diverse and higher-value roles for women is steadily improving.”
Key Insights from Women in the Indian Workforce 2026 (Feb 2025 vs Feb 2026)
Seniority shift: women are rising through the ranks
Women’s hiring share rises in 7+ years’ experience bands
|
Experience level |
2025 |
2026 |
|
0–3 years |
53% |
49% |
|
4–6 years |
32% |
30% |
|
7–10 years |
11% |
14% |
|
11–15 years |
2% |
4% |
|
15+ years |
1% |
3% |
Jobs for women are moving beyond metros
Geographically, women-represented opportunities are expanding beyond metro cities. Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations now account for 44% of job postings featuring women’s representation, up from 41% in 2025, while Tier-1 cities make up the remaining 56%, down from 59%. Within this, Tier-2 women-preferred postings grew 22% year-on-year, with cities such as Jaipur, Coimbatore, Indore, and Kochi emerging among the fastest-growing hubs for women’s workforce participation.
City mix: Delhi/NCR leads; Bengaluru, Pune and the South gain share
Delhi/NCR remains largest hub for women’s hiring; southern metros gain share
|
City |
Feb 2025 (%share) |
Feb 2026 (% share) |
|
Delhi/NCR |
22% |
21% |
|
Bengaluru |
15% |
16% |
|
Mumbai |
15% |
14% |
|
Pune |
10% |
11% |
|
Hyderabad |
9% |
10% |
|
Chennai |
8% |
9% |
Women’s hiring expands into core growth sectors
Functionally, the talent mix is shifting toward roles that are closer to technology, revenue generation, and decision-making. Women’s representation increased in IT from 32% to 34% and rose sharply in Data & Analytics from 7% to 10%. Sales & Business Development grew from 15% to 16%, while Marketing & Communications saw a similar uptick from 14% to 16%. Meanwhile, areas where women have traditionally been concentrated recorded slight declines, with Customer Service/BPO dropping from 12% to 10% and Human Resources from 21% to 20%.
Salaries: pay mix improves, Higher salary bands gain share, though sub-₹10 LPA remains dominant
Women-preferred postings by salary band (share):
|
Salary band |
2025 |
2026 |
|
₹0–10 LPA |
79% |
74% |
|
₹11–25 LPA |
11% |
16% |
|
₹25+ LPA |
8% |
10% |
Salary mix (share) – Overall market vs startups:
Salary distribution of women-preferred jobs: Market vs startups
|
Salary band |
Overall market (% share) |
Startups (%share) |
|
₹0–10 LPA |
74% |
61% |
|
₹11–25 LPA |
16% |
24% |
|
₹25+ LPA |
10% |
15% |
Return-to-office roles moderate in 2026 as hybrid and remote roles expand
In 2025, organisations made a strong push toward return-to-office, with WFO mandates surging by 55%. By 2026, however, the approach became more measured. WFO growth eased to 18%, while hybrid roles rose by 9% and remote opportunities increased by 6%. This recalibration signals a sharper focus on retention and employee choice, particularly important for women balancing the dual demands of career progression and caregiving.
Closing the demand gap
Women are increasingly represented in emerging tech roles, with participation rising from 26% to 31%. As the demand-supply gap narrows, organisations are more effectively converting education into employment, pointing to a more inclusive tech ecosystem ahead.
